BACKGROUND: The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the serum tumor markers CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 in the early diagnosis of recurrence of gastric cancer. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three patients who had undergone potentially curative surgery were considered. Serum samples were obtained preoperatively, 1 week after surgery, and at every follow-up examination. Mean follow-up time for the entire patient population was 41 +/- 33 months, and 71 +/- 27 months for patients classified as disease-free. RESULTS: Preoperative positivity was 16% for CEA, 35% for CA 19-9, and 20% for CA 72-4. Recurrence of disease was found in 75 patients (56%). Marker sensitivity in recurrent cases was 44% for CEA, 56% for CA 19-9, and 51% for CA 72-4; the combined use of the three markers increased sensitivity to 87%, which reached 100% in patients with positive preoperative levels. Marker specificity, evaluated in 58 disease-free patients, was 79% for CEA, 74% for CA 19-9, and 97% for CA 72-4. CONCLUSIONS: The combined assay of CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 may be useful for early diagnosis of recurrence of gastric cancer; however, only CA 72-4 positivity should be considered a specific predictor of tumor recurrence.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the serum tumor markers CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 in the early diagnosis of recurrence of gastric cancer. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three patients who had undergone potentially curative surgery were considered. Serum samples were obtained preoperatively, 1 week after surgery, and at every follow-up examination. Mean follow-up time for the entire patient population was 41 +/- 33 months, and 71 +/- 27 months for patients classified as disease-free. RESULTS: Preoperative positivity was 16% for CEA, 35% for CA 19-9, and 20% for CA 72-4. Recurrence of disease was found in 75 patients (56%). Marker sensitivity in recurrent cases was 44% for CEA, 56% for CA 19-9, and 51% for CA 72-4; the combined use of the three markers increased sensitivity to 87%, which reached 100% in patients with positive preoperative levels. Marker specificity, evaluated in 58 disease-free patients, was 79% for CEA, 74% for CA 19-9, and 97% for CA 72-4. CONCLUSIONS: The combined assay of CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 may be useful for early diagnosis of recurrence of gastric cancer; however, only CA 72-4 positivity should be considered a specific predictor of tumor recurrence.
Authors: Victor Molina; Laura Visa; Carles Conill; Salvador Navarro; Jose M Escudero; Jose M Auge; Xavier Filella; Miguel A Lopez-Boado; Joana Ferrer; Laureano Fernandez-Cruz; Rafael Molina Journal: Tumour Biol Date: 2011-12-29
Authors: M Tsujiura; D Ichikawa; S Komatsu; A Shiozaki; H Takeshita; T Kosuga; H Konishi; R Morimura; K Deguchi; H Fujiwara; K Okamoto; E Otsuji Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2010-03-16 Impact factor: 7.640
Authors: Y Mohri; T Mohri; W Wei; Y-J Qi; A Martin; C Miki; M Kusunoki; D G Ward; P J Johnson Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2009-06-23 Impact factor: 7.640