[Sialic acid--an acute phase reactant and a concomitant of tumors].

Sialic acid is an acute phase reagent with tumour burden reflecting fluctuations of serum level. The parameter is unsuitable for an early recognition of cancer. Sialic acid could be used as a parameter in questions concerning tumour burden: the diagnosis of tumour stage, the control of growth after therapy, the prediction of recidivation. The small specificity of an increased serum level of sialic acid will presumably be only of little use in tumour diagnostics.