Effect of hemodialysis on the concentration of the seven tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen, neuron-specific enolase, CA 125, CA 19-9 and CA 15-3 in uremic patients.

The incidence of the 7 tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen (SCC), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), CA 125, CA 19-9 and CA 15-3 was studied before and after hemodialysis (HD) in 144 uremic patients who had no malignancies. Before HD, of all tumor markers, the mean concentration of SCC only exceeded the normal value. The positive rate was highest in SCC (95.1%), and that of CEA and NSE was 25.7 and 10.6%, respectively. However, AFP was within the normal range in all cases. Among CA antigens, the positive rate of CA 125 was 7.6%, of CA 19-9 was 6.3% and of CA 15-3 was 3.5%. After HD, the incidence as well as the mean concentration of all tumor markers increased. A parallel increment of total protein was observed after HD. The membrane filter used in HD appears to be insufficient to remove tumor marker proteins during HD. It is necessary to consider the clinical interpretation of elevated tumor markers in patients with uremia.