Nagalase – What is Nagalase and Why Do You Need To Know About It?

Nagalase is a protein made by all cancer cells and viruses, and is an extracellular matrix-degrading enzyme that is secreted by cancerous cells. Nagalase is a short form for the scientific name it represents: N-acetyl-Galactosaminidase.

Under normal conditions nagalase is involved in the metabolism of sugar side chains in larger molecules. The nagalase produced by tumors is thought to have an immunosuppressive effect, in other words, partially or completely suppresses the immune response of an individual.

The scientific community discovered that nagalase levels are increased in patients with tumors (cancer). Rising nagalase levels indicate a cancer or virus is growing and spreading. Conversely, nagalase levels will decrease if the cancer or infection is being effectively destroyed. As an extremely sensitive marker for cancers and certain viruses, nagalase testing provides a powerful tool for early detection and treatment. The great sensitivity of the test may help the physician in obtaining a better understanding of the therapy and to fine-tune the treatment.

Increased nagalase activity has been detected in the blood of patients with a wide variety of cancers like cancer of the prostate, breast, colon, lung, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, testis, uterus, and ovary, mesothelioma, melanoma, fibrosarcoma, glioblastoma, neuroblastoma, and various leukemias.

The Nagalase test is a great blood test for finding very early signs of cancer and/or chronic
viral infections, and this will improve chances of early diagnosis and management. You don’t want cancer to have gotten out of control by the time you find and start treating it. When cancers are still young and small, gentle natural therapies are the most effective. Alternative treatments work on early small cancers by enhancing immune functioning and removing the source of the inflammation that is causing the cancer.

Your doctor may perform the test in collaboration with a medical laboratory. For this test, a blood sample (serum) is taken and is sent to the laboratory.