OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between the serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen and the biological demeanour of lung cancer and analyze its clinical meaning for diagnosis of lung cancer. METHODS: By ELISA, the serum TPS was tested in 69 patients with lung cancer, 20 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis or pneumonia. RESULTS: The serum TPS in patients with lung cancer (273 +/- 172) U/L was significantly higher than the with benign lesions [(115 +/- 97) U/L, P < 0.001]. TPS level was related to clinical TNM stages and histological grades. It was significantly higher with TNM III, IV stages than that with I and II stages (P < 0.001). The contents of TPS in sera of 52 patients with lymphoid node metastasis were apparently higher than those of 17 cases without metastasis (P < 0.01). And it was higher in patients with small-cell lung cancer (346 +/- 163) U/L than that with non-small-cell lung cancer [(248 +/- 165) U/L, P < 0.05]. 16 post-chemotherapy patients show a lower TPS [(178 +/- 80) U/L] than pre-chemotherapy [(252 +/- 166) U/L, P < 0.05]. TPS was related with CEA (P < 0.01), NSE (P < 0.05) and TPA (P < 0.05), but not with CYFRA 21 - 1 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum TPS level is closely connected with TNM stages, histological grades and lymphoid node metastases and may serve as a novel marker for diagnosis of lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between the serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen and the biological demeanour of lung cancer and analyze its clinical meaning for diagnosis of lung cancer. METHODS: By ELISA, the serum TPS was tested in 69 patients with lung cancer, 20 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis or pneumonia. RESULTS: The serum TPS in patients with lung cancer (273 +/- 172) U/L was significantly higher than the with benign lesions [(115 +/- 97) U/L, P < 0.001]. TPS level was related to clinical TNM stages and histological grades. It was significantly higher with TNM III, IV stages than that with I and II stages (P < 0.001). The contents of TPS in sera of 52 patients with lymphoid node metastasis were apparently higher than those of 17 cases without metastasis (P < 0.01). And it was higher in patients with small-cell lung cancer (346 +/- 163) U/L than that with non-small-cell lung cancer [(248 +/- 165) U/L, P < 0.05]. 16 post-chemotherapy patients show a lower TPS [(178 +/- 80) U/L] than pre-chemotherapy [(252 +/- 166) U/L, P < 0.05]. TPS was related with CEA (P < 0.01), NSE (P < 0.05) and TPA (P < 0.05), but not with CYFRA 21 - 1 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum TPS level is closely connected with TNM stages, histological grades and lymphoid node metastases and may serve as a novel marker for diagnosis of lung cancer.