Tumor markers of pancreatic carcinoma.

There is no well-defined specific tumor marker for carcinoma of the pancreas. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alphafetal protein (AFP) are produced by some pancreatic cancer cells. A pancreatic oncofetal antigen (POA) cross-reacts with other malignant neoplasms and is not produced by all pancreatic carcinomas. An ammonium sulfate fraction (0-25%) from an aqueous extract of pancreatic carcinoma tissues contains an antigen cross-reacting with extracts of other pancreatic carcinomas and various carcinomas representing all three germinal layers. A heterologous antiserum to this antigen cross-reacts with sera from patients with pancreatic carcinomas in a dilution of 1:16,000. At lower dilutions this antiserum reacts with sera from patients with other carcinomas and with sera from some apparently healthy individuals.