Value of preoperative serum CA125 in early-stage adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix without pelvic lymph node metastasis

OBJECTIVE: This investigation attempted to clarify the value of preoperative serum CA125 in predicting histopathological prognostic factors for early-stage cervical adenocarcinoma without lymph node metastasis. METHODS: This study initially surveyed 163 patients with clinical stage Ib or IIa cervical adenocarcinoma treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Of the 163 patients, 116 had preoperative serum CA125 levels, and 14 had pelvic lymph node metastasis. The investigation group comprised 102 lymph node-negative patients. RESULTS: A cutoff value of 26 U/ml was obtained after the discriminant function analysis for identifying patients with positive lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) or depth of stromal invasion > or =2/3 thickness. Multivariate analysis revealed that among the preoperative clinicopathological variables, including age, tumor size, parametrial invasion, and CA125 level, raised CA125 most significantly influenced the assessment of the LVSI (P = 0.040) and depth of cervical stromal invasion (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In early-stage cervical adenocarcinoma with negative pelvic lymph node metastasis, preoperative serum CA125 levels at the cutoff value of 26 U/ml impacted the determination of the poor histopathological prognostic factors.     

Improvement of Clinical Staging in Cervical Cancer with Serum Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen and CA 125 Determinations

Staging of cervical cancer is routinely performed by means of examination under anesthesia in combination with radiographic and/or endoscopic techniques. This “clinical” staging leads to 10–25% misclassification, mostly due to positive lymph nodes or lymph or blood vessel invasion. Determination of pretreatment squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and CA 125 serum levels may solve part of this staging problem and may improve the selection of the most appropriate individual therapy. Using 2.5 ng/ml (SCC) and 35 U/ml (CA 125) as cutoff levels, we studied 99 patients retrospectively. Elevated levels were found in 27% (SCC) and 23% (CA 125). In clinical stage IB or IIA disease 45/81 patients had positive nodes or lymph or blood vessel invasion at operation. Of these patients 49% had elevated serum levels of SCC or CA 125. Strongest correlation was found with blood vessel invasion (57%). Only 19% of low-stage patients without evidence of vascular spread of disease had positive levels. The positive predictive value of SCC and CA 125 for detection of vascular spread of disease in low-stage cervical cancer was 76%. In most centers surgery is the primary treatment of choice in low-stage cervical cancer. Nevertheless, with respect to patient survival, results of primary surgery and primary radiotherapy are comparable. Radiotherapy given in an adjuvant setting leads to a high incidence of severe complications. In order to overcome part of these complications one should consider radiotherapy as the primary therapy of choice in patients with clinical stage IB or IIA cervical cancer with elevated pretreatment SCC or CA 125 levels.     

Combined use of magnetic resonance imaging,CA 125 assay,histologic type,and histologic grade in the prediction of lymph node metastasis in endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to predict retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis during the preoperative examination of patients with endometrial carcinoma and to determine whether lymphadenectomy must be performed. STUDY DESIGN: This study was carried out on 214 patients with endometrial carcinoma. Preoperative evaluators were volume index, depth of myometrial invasion (as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging), serum CA 125 level, histologic type, and histologic grade. With the use of receiver operating characteristic curves, cutoff values of volume index and serum CA 125 levels were determined. The relationships of these evaluators with pelvic lymph node metastasis were investigated by multivariate analysis with a logistic regression model. The relationships of these evaluators with para-aortic lymph node metastasis were investigated in the same way. RESULTS: Histologic type, volume index, histologic grade, and serum CA 125 level were found to be independent risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis; serum CA 125 level and volume index were found to be independent risk factors for para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Among 110 cases with no risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis, pelvic lymph node metastasis was observed in 4 cases (3.6%). On the other hand, only 1 case of 128 cases (0.7%) with no risk factors for para-aortic lymph node metastasis actually had metastasis. CONCLUSION: Careful consideration of the possibility of the elimination of the requirement of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is needed in cases with no risk factors for lymph node metastasis. However, our results suggest that para-aortic lymphadenectomy may not be necessary in cases with no risk factors for para-aortic lymph node metastasis.     

A comparison of pretreatment serum levels of four tumor markers in patients with endometrial and cervical carcinoma

CA125 (reference value [RV] = 35 U/mL), CA50 (RV = 20 U/mL), CA72.4 (RV = 3.8 U/mL) and SCC (RV = 3.6 ng/mL) levels were retrospectively assayed in blood samples collected at diagnosis from 42 patients with endometrial carcinoma, 45 patients with cervical carcinoma and 68 patients with benign uterine pathology as controls. Among the patients with endometrial carcinoma. CA50 was the antigen with the highest sensitivity (SE) (34.4%) followed by CA125 (26.2%), CA72.4 (21.9%) and SCC (16.7%). The incidence of elevated serum CA125 and CA72.4 levels was significantly greater in advanced stages than in early ones (66.7% vs 19.4%, p = 0.032 for CA125; 66.7% vs 11.5%, p = 0.012 for CA72.4), while CA50 positivity was not significantly correlated with the extent of disease (50% in advanced stages vs 30.8% in early ones, p = 0.38). Among the patients with cervical carcinoma, CA125 and CA50 respectively showed a SE of 33.3% and of 42.9% for adenocarcinoma, while SCC had a SE of 33.3% and of 42.9% for squamous cell adenocarcinoma; in particular among the patients with squamous cell carcinoma, the incidence of elevated SCC levels was correlated with the extent of tumor (57.1% in advanced stages vs 12.5% in early ones, p = 0.013). In conclusion, CA50 and CA125 were the most sensitive tumor markers in both endometrial carcinoma and cervical adenocarcinoma, while SCC was the most reliable antigen for squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Because of the affinity of SCC, CA50 and CA125 for different histological types of cervical carcinoma, the combined evaluation of SCC with CA50 or CA125 showed an increased SE with respect to each marker alone.     

细胞角蛋白、CA125对子宫内膜癌淋巴结微转移的诊断价值

目的　研究细胞角蛋白 (cytokeratin ,CK)、CA12 5对子宫内膜癌淋巴结微转移的诊断价值 ,及其作为子宫内膜癌复发危险因素的临床意义。方法　采用免疫组化链霉菌抗生物素蛋白 过氧化物酶连接 (SP)法检测 5 0例子宫内膜癌患者的原发灶组织 5 0份和淋巴结 2 98枚中CK、CA12 5的表达情况 ,采用多元回归分析法对影响子宫内膜癌复发的危险因素进行分析。结果　 (1)CK、CA12 5在子宫内膜癌组织中的阳性表达率分别为 10 0 % (5 0 / 5 0 )和 78% (39/ 5 0 )。 (2 )HE染色检查有转移的淋巴结中 ,CK和CA12 5均呈强阳性表达的阳性表达率均为 10 0 % (16 / 16 )。HE染色检查无转移的淋巴结中 ,CK、CA12 5的阳性表达率分别为 15 % (4 3/ 2 82 )和 12 % (35 / 2 82 ) ,且均为弱阳性表达。 (3)Ⅰ、Ⅱ期子宫内膜癌患者淋巴结中 ,CK阳性与CK阴性表达者的复发率分别为 38%、0 ,两者比较 ,差异有显著性 (P <0 0 5 ) ;CA12 5阳性与CA12 5阴性表达者的复发率分别为 39%、4 % ,两者比较 ,差异也有显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。 (4 )多元回归分析结果显示 ,淋巴结中CK表达是影响Ⅰ、Ⅱ期子宫内膜癌复发的独立危险因素 ,而淋巴结中CA12 5表达和肌层浸润深度均为影响Ⅰ、Ⅱ期子宫内膜癌复发的相关因素。结论　在HE染色检查无转移的淋巴     

Preoperative Serum CA 125 Level as a Predictor for Metastasis and Survival in Endometrioid Endometrial Cancer

ObjectiveWe wished to determine the relationship between preoperative serum CA 125 levels and the risk of metastatic disease, recurrent disease, and death in women with endometrial cancer.MethodsWe reviewed the records of women with endometrial adenocarcinoma of all stages who underwent primary surgery. We abstracted multiple data variables, including demographic characteristics, serum CA 125 levels, postoperative histopathology results, progression-free survival, and overall survival rates.ResultsThe records of 97 women with endometrial carcinoma were analyzed. With a serum CA 125 cut-off level of 35 kU/L, the likelihood of disease-related death could be predicted with 70% sensitivity and 83% specificity; disease progression could be predicted with 60% sensitivity and 84% specificity; and lymph node metastasis could be predicted with 75% sensitivity and 84% specificity. There was a significant relationship between a serum CA 125 level ≥ 35 kU/L and depth of myometrial invasion, cervical stromal invasion, stage, frequency of recurrence, and disease-related death. Having deep myometrial invasion, cervical stromal involvement, positive peritoneal cytology, lymph node metastasis, disease recurrence, and disease-related death were each associated with significantly higher mean CA 125 levels. In women with serum CA 125 levels < 35 kU/L, fiveyear progression-free survival rates (88%) and overall survival rates (92%) were significantly better than in women with levels ≥ 35 kU/L (57% and 70%, respectively; P = 0.001 for both).ConclusionSerum CA 125 levels and extension of disease are highly correlated in women with endometrioid endometrial cancer, and elevated CA 125 levels predict a higher risk of disease recurrence and death.     

Discordance between serum level and tissue immunohistochemical staining of CA125 in endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus.

This study was designed to correlate tissue expression of CA125 with the corresponding serum value in endometrial cancer. The records of 52 endometrioid adenocarcinomas diagnosed were reviewed. Serum CA125 levels were examined before definitive surgery, and 20 U/ml was used as the cutoff value. Immunohistochemical staining for CA125 was assessed according to the ImmunoReactive Score. Statistical analyzes were performed to identify independent factor for high serum CA125 levels, including CA125 staining and the conventional pathologic features. Elevated serum CA125 levels were found in 15 of 52 patients (29%) (range, 0.1-172.1; mean 22.6 U/ml). The frequency of positive CA125 tissue staining (35/52, 67%) tended to be higher than that of elevated serum levels (p = 0.046). Fifteen patients with elevated serum CA125 levels statistically differed from the remaining 37 patients with normal serum CA125 level with respect to International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (p = 0.027) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.024), and tended to have positive washing cytology (p = 0.052). In multivariate analysis, elevated serum CA125 significantly correlated only with FIGO stage III, but not with tumor size or CA125 tissue staining. Intrauterine tumor may not be the main source of serum CA125 in endometrial cancer, and elevated serum level is closely related to the presence of disseminated cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity.     

子宫内膜癌患者血清CP2、CA125、唾液酸和癌胚抗原检测的临床意义

目的探讨肿瘤标志物CP2、CA125、唾液酸（SA）和癌胚抗原（CEA）检测对子宫内膜癌患者的临床意义。方法选取154例具有肿瘤标志物检测结果的子宫内膜癌患者的临床病理资料进行回顾性分析。结果子宫内膜癌患者血清CP2、SA、CA125和CEA水平升高的百分率分别为23．4％、36．8％、19．0％和30．3％。血清CP2水平升高与手术病理分期、病理分化程度、附件受累、腹腔细胞学检查阳性及盆腔淋巴结转移相关（P值分别为0．002、0．040、0．019、0．019、0．005）;血清SA水平升高与附件受累、腹腔细胞学检查阳性相关（P值分别为0．021、0．000）;血清CA125水平升高与病理分化程度、宫颈受累和盆腔淋巴结转移相关（P值分别为0．014、0．006、0．018）;CEA与各临床病理特征间均无相关性（P均〉0．05）。血清CP2、CA125和CEA水平升高与患者预后相关（P值分别为0．016、0．000、0．016）,其中CA125水平与预后关系最为密切。结论子宫内膜癌缺乏特异性肿瘤标志物,CP2与子宫内膜癌临床病理特征相关性较强,CP2、CA125和CEA对患者预后有提示作用。     

Combined Assay of Serum Levels of CA125 and CA19-9 in Endometrial Carcinoma

Serum levels of CA125 and CA19-9 were examined in 225 cases with endometrial carcinoma before treatment and 32 cases with recurrent endometrial carcinoma. The positive rates in the 225 cases were 27.1% for CA125, 24.0% for CA19-9, and 38.7% for the combined assay. The serum levels of both CA125 and CA19-9 significantly increased with surgical staging. The presence of lymph node metastasis and extrauterine spread exhibited a marked influence on the serum levels of both CA125 and CA19-9. Myometrial invasion and vessel permeation also increased serum levels of CA125, whereas peritoneal cytology and adnexal metastasis exhibited no influence on CA125 levels or CA19-9 levels. Twenty-five of 33 cases who showed either more than 100 U/ml of CA125 level or more than 100 U/ml of CA19-9 level were classified as surgical stage III or IV. The combined assay demonstrated a 71.9% positive rate at the time of detection of the recurrence (65.6% for CA125, 43.7% for CA19-9). In 34.4% of the 32 recurrent cases, elevated levels of the tumor markers were the first sign of recurrence. These data indicate that the use of CA19-9 in combination with CA125 is noteworthy in the management of patients with endometrial carcinoma.     

Tumor markers CA 125, carcinoembryonic antigen and tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma

Tumor markers CA 125, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tumor-associated trypsin inhibitor (TATI) were studied in 42 patients with cervical adenocarcinoma. Pretreatment levels of CA 125 were elevated in 73% of 33 patients, CEA in 48% of 27 patients, serum TATI in 23% of 22 patients, and urine TATI in 38% of 26 patients. Elevated CA 125 levels were associated with histological grade (P = 0.002), and elevated CEA levels with the presence of lymph node metastases (P = 0.008), respectively. No associations were found between elevated tumor marker levels and stage, or tumor size. Serum CA 125 levels increased in 71% of the patients with progressive disease, CEA levels in 36%, serum TATI levels in 46%, and urine TATI levels in 20% of the patients. In all patients with regressive disease the tumor marker levels decreased or stayed unchanged. Regression of the disease was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with stage, histological grade, tumor size, and nodal status. The results suggest that CA 125 and, to a lesser extent, CEA and TATI are useful in the follow-up of patients with cervical adenocarcinoma.     

早期子宫颈鳞癌盆腔淋巴结转移的影响因素

目的 探讨早期(Ⅰ b～Ⅱa期)宫颈鳞癌盆腔淋巴结转移的影响因素.方法 回顾性分析2004年2月-2007年1月在浙江大学医学院附属妇产科医院接受治疗、资料完整的135例早期宫颈鳞癌患者的临床病理资料.选择10个非重复的特征性因素,包括患者年龄、临床期别、肿瘤直径、病理分化程度、深肌层浸润、脉管浸润、治疗前血清鳞状细胞癌抗原水平,以及治疗前血小板数量、血浆纤维蛋白原和血红蛋白水平,通过单因素和多因素分析研究这些特征性因素与盆腔淋巴结转移之间的关系.结果 135例宫颈鳞癌患者中,术后病理检查证实共切除盆腔淋巴结3996枚,平均每例29.6枚(20～47枚).其中,病理检查证实盆腔淋巴结转移的患者有17例,盆腔淋巴结转移率为12.6%(17/135).单因素分析结果 显示,肿瘤直径(P=0.003)、深肌层浸润(P=0.004)、脉管浸润(P<0.01)、血小板数量(P=0.006)、血浆纤维蛋白原水平(P<0.01)是与盆腔淋巴结转移明显相关的因素.多因素分析结果 显示,脉管浸润(OR=3.674,95%CI:1.825～7.393,P<0.01)和血浆纤维蛋白原水平(OR=4.568,95%CI:1.779～11.725,P=0.002)是与盆腔淋巴结转移明显相关的因素.结论 脉管浸润和高血浆纤维蛋白原水平是影响早期宫颈鳞癌患者盆腔淋巴结转移的高危因素.     

Multivariate analysis of histopathologic prognostic factors for invasive cervical cancer treated with radical hysterectomy and systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify the independent histopathologic prognostic factors for patients with cervical carcinoma treated with radical hysterectomy including paraaortic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: A total of 187 patients with stage IB to IIB cervical carcinomas treated with radical hysterectomy and systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The median follow-up period was 83 months. Cox regression analysis was used to select independent prognostic factors. RESULTS: Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, lymph node (LN) status (negative vs. metastasis to pelvic nodes except for common iliac nodes vs. common iliac/paraaortic node metastasis), histopathologic parametrial invasion, lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), and histology of pure adenocarcinoma were found to be independently related to patients' poor survival. For patients who had a tumor histologically confined to the uterus and have neither parametrial invasion nor lymph node metastasis, LVSI was the most important prognostic factor, and histologic type, depth of cervical stromal invasion, and tumor size were not related to survival. The survival of patients with a tumor extending to parametrium or pelvic lymph node(s) was adversely affected by histology of pure adenocarcinoma. When the tumor extended to common iliac or paraaortic nodes, patients' survival became quite poor irrespective of LVSI or histologic type of pure adenocarcinoma. Patients' prognosis could be stratified into low risk (patients with a tumor confined to the uterus not associated with LVSI: n = 80), intermediate risk (patients with a tumor confined to the uterus associated with positive LVSI, and patients with squamous/adenosquamous carcinoma associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis or parametrial invasion: n = 86), and high risk (patients with pure adenocarcinoma associated with pelvic lymph node metastasis or parametrial invasion, and patients with common iliac/paraaortic node metastasis: n = 21) with an estimated 5-year survival rate of 100 +/- 0 (mean +/- SE)%, 85.5 +/- 3.9%, and 25.1 +/- 9.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: LN status, parametrial invasion, LVSI, and histology of pure adenocarcinoma are important histopathologic prognostic factors of cervical carcinoma treated with radical hysterectomy and systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. Prognosis for patients with cervical carcinoma may be stratified by combined analysis of these histopathologic prognostic factors. Postoperative therapy needs to be individualized according to these prognostic factors and validated for its efficacy using randomized clinical trials.     

Para-aortic lymph node metastasis in relation to serum CA 125 levels and nuclear grade in endometrial carcinoma

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between preoperative serum CA 125 levels and para-aortic lymph node (PAN) metastasis as determined by systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection in endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: This study included 180 patients (n = 55, premenopausal; n = 125, postmenopausal) with endometrial carcinoma treated by complete surgical staging. Cut-off values of preoperative serum CA 125 levels for PAN metastasis were determined by receiver characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors for PAN metastasis. RESULTS: The median serum CA 125 levels of patients with PAN metastasis were significantly higher than the levels of those with no metastasis in both premenopausal and postmenopausal groups. Based on ROC analysis, we could determine four cut-off values (70 and 210 U/mL for premenopausal patients, 20 and 60 U/mL for postmenopausal patients) and categorize the serum CA 125 levels into low, moderate and high groups. By logistic regression analysis, the CA 125 level and nuclear grade were found to be significant predictors of PAN metastasis, respectively. Using this model, the patients were stratified into three risk groups. The probabilities of PAN metastasis for patients in the low-risk, intermediate-risk and high-risk groups were less than 2%, 2-25% and more than 50%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum CA 125 levels and nuclear grade are important risk factors for PAN metastasis in endometrial carcinoma.     

The Value of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen as a Predictor of Nodal Metastasis in Cervical Cancer

Preoperative serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) levels were examined in 148 cases of stage Ib squamous cervical cancer undergoing radical hysterectomy. The effect of the pelvic lymph node status on the marker level was examined by comparing 113 cases with cancer limited to the uterus and 23 cases with cancer confined to the uterus and pelvic lymph nodes using two different multivariate analyses. Ninety-five percent of patients with cancer limited to the uterus showed SCC levels of 4 ng/ml or below. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of patients with serum levels above 4 ng/ml exhibited pelvic lymph node metastasis. The marker values exceeding 4 ng/ml increased the risk of nodal metastasis by eight times, compared with serum levels of 4 ng/ml or below. Multivariate analyses confirmed that the pelvic lymph node metastasis had a larger impact on the marker level than did tumor size or depth of stromal infiltration. SCC levels greaterthan 4 ng/ml can be considered a high-risk zone for nodalmetastasis.     

子宫颈腺癌159例预后影响因素分析

目的探讨影响宫颈腺癌预后的高危因素。方法选择1992年1月—2002年12月在中国协和医科大学肿瘤医院初治的159例宫颈腺癌为研究对象,收集其临床病理资料,进行预后影响因素的回顾性分析。结果患者总5年生存率为47 9%。其中临床分期Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ期患者的5年生存率分别为86 1%、56 4%、36 0%、0。复发或转移发生率为29 6%, 复发或转移患者的5年生存率为17 3%。单因素分析显示,肿瘤直径(P=0 009)、临床分期(P<0 01)、血CA125水平(P=0 039)等与预后有关; 27例手术治疗患者中,淋巴结转移(P=0 001)、深肌层浸润(P=0 009)与预后有关。多因素分析显示,只有临床分期、淋巴结转移是独立的预后影响因素。结论临床分期、淋巴结转移是影响宫颈腺癌预后的主要因素,提高早期检出率、改进治疗措施对于提高宫颈腺癌的生存率有重要意义。     

Clinical significance of tumor volume in endometrial cancer: A Japan–Korea cooperative study

Objective

The aim of this study was to elucidate the significance of tumor volume as a risk factor for predicting lymph node metastasis.

Methods

We applied the tumor volume index to the data that were collected for 327 Korean patients with endometrial cancer who underwent preoperative assessment including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and subsequent surgery including systematic lymphadenectomy. The volume index, which we previously reported in the literature, was defined as the product of maximum longitudinal diameter along the uterine axis, maximum anteroposterior diameter in a sagittal section image, and maximum horizontal diameter in a horizontal section image according to MRI data, from 425 Japanese women with endometrial cancer. Relationships between lymph node metastasis and results of preoperative examinations including volume index were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of affected lymph nodes was 14.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that high-grade histology assessed by endometrial biopsy [odds ratio (OR); 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4–6.4], volume index (OR; 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1–5.3), node enlargement assessed by MRI (OR; 4.2, 95% CI: 1.4–13.2), and high serum cancer antigen (CA)125 level (OR; 3.6, 95% CI: 1.6–8.1) were significantly and independently related to lymph node metastasis. When volume index was excluded from the analysis, myoinvasion assessed by MRI was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis as well as high-grade histology, node enlargement, and high serum CA125 level.

Conclusion

Volume index is compatible with myometrial invasion as a factor for predicting lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer.     

Monitoring endometrial adenocarcinoma with a four tumor marker combination. CA 125, squamous cell carcinoma antigen, CA 19.9 and CA 15.3.

The combined value of four tumor markers, in the follow-up of endometrial adenocarcinoma, is analyzed. Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA 19.9) and carbohydrate antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) were used in 213 evaluations from 105 patients. Sensitivity as regards recurrence or progression of disease was 45% (CA 125), 9% (SCC), 51% (CA 19.9) and 21% (CA 15.3). Specificities as regards the 'no evidence of disease' ranged from 95% to 99%. Single tumor marker efficiency ranged from 90% for CA 125 to 84% for SCC (p = 0.08). With the two tumor marker combination sensitivity increased up to 77% achieved with CA 125-CA 19.9, but efficiency increased only slightly (92.0% for CA 125-SCC). In the best three tumor marker combination, a sensitivity of 85% was achieved (CA 125-CA 19.9-CA 15.3), and an efficiency of 92.2%. The simultaneous use of the four tumor markers did not improve assay results. The possibility of recurrence or progression of disease in some combinations was very low (4.6% when CA 125 and CA 19.9 negative, 3% when CA 125, CA 19.9 and CA 15.3 negative), a fact to be considered in order to avoid aggressive management in such cases. The tumor markers were of limited value for the prediction of recurrences. The suggestion of recurrence when the increase in tumor markers was the only finding was confirmed in only 7%, while confirmation was made in 100% when there was another pathological finding.     

Use of preoperative serum CA-125 levels for prediction of lymph node metastasis and prognosis in endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative serum CA-125 levels in the assessment of disease extent and clinical outcome of endometrial cancer. METHOD: This retrospective study evaluated 92 women with pathologically proven endometrial carcinoma scheduled for treatment that had preoperative serum CA-125 levels between January 1999 and February 2006. The association of preoperative serum CA-125 with a variety of histopathologic factors was evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using chi2/Fisher's exact test and a logistic regression. Survival was studied with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression models. RESULTS: Elevated serum CA-125 levels were significantly correlated with advanced-stage disease (p<0.001), lymph node metastases (p<0.001), increased depth of myometrial invasion (p=0.001), and positive peritoneal cytology (p=0.026). Multivariate analyses using logistic regression showed that lymph node metastases had the most significant effect on the elevation of preoperative serum CA-125 levels (p=0.004). Patients with a serum CA-125 < or =28.5 U/ml had a significantly better five-year disease-free survival than those with an elevated level in this study: 85.6% versus 60.0% (p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The preoperative serum CA-125 level appears to be a significant independent predictor of lymph node metastasis and prognosis after surgical intervention. Therefore, preoperative serum CA-125 may be a useful tool, in the clinical setting, for optimal individualized patient management.     

早期宫颈鳞癌患者盆腔淋巴结转移的相关因素分析

目的:探讨早期宫颈鳞状细胞癌患者盆腔淋巴结转移的危险因素。方法:回顾分析152例行手术治疗的ⅠB~ⅡA期宫颈鳞癌患者的临床资料,分析患者的年龄、临床分期、肿瘤细胞分化程度、宫颈间质浸润深度、肿瘤直径大小、脉管癌栓、术前血清宫颈鳞状上皮抗原(SCC-Ag)水平、治疗前血浆纤维蛋白原(FⅠB)水平及D-二聚体水平9个指标与盆腔淋巴结转移的关系。结果:152例ⅠB~ⅡA期宫颈鳞癌患者中20例存在盆腔淋巴结转移(13.16%)。单因素分析结果显示,宫颈间质浸润深度、肿瘤直径、脉管癌栓、术前血清SCC-Ag水平及血浆FⅠB水平与盆腔淋巴结转移有关,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);淋巴结阳性患者的血浆D-二聚体水平高于阴性患者,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。多因素分析结果显示,脉管癌栓、术前血清SCC-Ag及血浆FⅠB水平与盆腔淋巴结转移相关,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:脉管癌栓、术前血清SCC-Ag水平及治疗前血浆FⅠB水平是ⅠB~ⅡA期宫颈鳞癌患者盆腔淋巴结转移的独立危险因素,而术前D-二聚体水平与盆腔淋巴结转移之间的关系,尚需进一步研究。     

Both TPA and SCC-Ag levels are prognostic even in high-risk stage Ib-IIa cervical carcinoma as determined by a stratification analysis

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic values of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the sera of cervical carcinoma patients, especially in those with a poor prognosis. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the preoperative serum SCC-Ag, TPA, and CEA were analyzed in 779 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma of stage Ib-IIa who received radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection (RAH-PLND) between 1984 and 1994. RESULTS: Due to poor predictive value and poor correlation between serum CEA and clinico-pathological factors, CEA was abandoned in this study. Elevated TPA and SCC-Ag levels, pelvic lymph node metastasis (PLNM), lymphvascular space involvement (LVSI) and deep stromal invasion (DSI) were associated with poor survival time by univariate analysis. The correlation study showed that elevated serum TPA was significantly related to PLNM, LVSI, and DSI (p = 0.004, 0.008, and 0.021, respectively), and SCC-Ag was related to PLNM and bulky tumor size (p = 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). In the multivariate analysis, only PLNM and LVSI remained independently significant indicating poor survival. Further stratification studies by PLNM and LVSI showed that elevated TPA levels could even indicate higher recurrence rates in patients with PLNM (p = 0.045), as well as SCC-Ag in patients with LVSI (p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that both elevated TPA and SCC-Ag levels depicting poor prognosis in stage Ib-IIa cervical SCC, especially indicates a group of high-risk patients who may need more aggressive therapy.