Abstract: A reliable, sensitive and easy to handle diagnostic and prognostic test of cancer, includes measuring and analyzing the production of methylglyoxal (MG) from metabolically active cancer cells; in biological samples of extracellular fluids, cells and/or tissues of human or animal subjects. It uses any chemical or immunological in vitro method for MG measurement and it provides a kit for the early detection, screening and diagnosis of cancer; for the staging of cancer, for predicting the survival odds of cancer patients, for monitoring therapeutic response to anticancer programs (including prevention and prophylactic treatments), and for prediction and early detection of cachexia.

Abstract: Compounds which are hydrolyzed in vivo to n-butyric acid are esters of butyric acid in which the alcohol group is selected from the group consisting of polyhydric alcohols, cyclic and acyclic aldose or ketose monosaccharides and their acetonides. Of particular interest are O-butanoyl-6-O-ispropylidene-1,2,.alpha. O-glucofuranose, tri-O-butanoyl 3, 5, 6,- isopropylidene-1,2 .alpha.-D-glucofuranose, O-butanoyl-6-di-O-isopropylidene-1,2 : 3,4 .alpha.-D-galactopyranose, and penta-O-butanoyl-1,2,3,4,6 D-galactopyranose and penta-O-butanoyl-1,2,3,4,6.alpha. D-galactopyranose, )-n-butanoyl-1-isopropylidene-2,3 glyceryl, O-butanoyl-3-di-o-palmitoyl-1,2 glyceryl, and di-O-n butanoyl-2,3 O-palmitoyl-1 glyceryl.