Does Serum CA19-9 Play a Practical Role in the Management of Patients With Colorectal Cancer?

PURPOSE: CA19-9 is often used in combination with carcinoembryonic antigen to manage patients with colorectal cancer, even though there is insufficient evidence to support this use of CA19-9. Carcinoembryonic antigen, by contrast, has been regarded as a better indicator of poor prognosis and recurrence. The purpose of this study is to clarify whether CA19-9 is, in fact, a useful marker in the management of colorectal cancer patients by comparing it with carcinoembryonic antigen. METHODS: A retrospective investigation was done for a consecutive series of 155 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma who underwent potentially curative surgery between 1995 and 1999. Excluded were patients with postoperative assays performed less than three times for either carcinoembryonic antigen or CA19-9 and those who had developed secondary cancers. Data from 118 patients were analyzed in terms of prediction of prognosis and detection of recurrences. RESULTS: The sensitivities of preoperative CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen were 29.8 percent and 45.3 percent, respectively. In the univariate analysis of preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 assays in 114 patients, high carcinoembryonic antigen level was significantly associated with poor prognosis (P = 0.0090 by log-rank test). We could not find a significant association between preoperative CA19-9 abnormality and survival (P = 0.12). Multivariate analysis of preoperative factors indicated significance in TNM stage (P = 0.0094) and tumor location (P = 0.036) but in neither carcinoembryonic antigen (P = 0.061) nor CA19-9 (P = 0.22). Among 40 patients with recurrences, postoperative elevations of tumor markers were seen in 19 cases for CA19-9 and in 37 for carcinoembryonic antigen throughout the follow-up periods. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 0.48, 0.88, 0.68, and 0.77, respectively, for CA19-9, and 0.93, 0.88, 0.80, and 0.96, respectively, for carcinoembryonic antigen. In patients with recurrences, the initial postoperative elevation of tumor markers was seen earlier than the detection of recurrence in 68.4 percent of those with CA19-9 elevation and in 67.6 percent of those with carcinoembryonic antigen elevation. There was only one patient with recurrence who had CA19-9 elevation without carcinoembryonic antigen elevation, while 19 recurrent patients had carcinoembryonic antigen elevation without CA19-9 elevation. Multivariate analysis showed a significant risk of carcinoembryonic antigen elevation against recurrence with an odds ratio of 32.0 (P < 0.0001), in contrast to an insignificant association of CA19-9 elevation (P = 0.23). CONCLUSION: We could not find clinical significance to support the use of CA19-9 to predict the prognosis and detect recurrence of colorectal cancer. Because of this, we do not recommend routine use of CA19-9 in staging and surveillance of colorectal cancer patients.     

Comparison of serum CA72-4, CEA,TPA, CA19-9 and CA125 levels in gastric cancer patients and correlation with recurrence

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serum tumor markers were investigated as prognostic factors for recurrence in patients with gastric cancers. METHODOLOGY: Preoperative serum levels of CEA, CA72-4, CA19-9, TPA and CA125 were sampled in 196 patients with gastric cancers undergoing curative surgery. The results were compared with the clinical recurrence and various clinicopathological factors. RESULTS: CA72-4, CEA, CA19-9, TPA and CA125 had sensitivities of 16.4%, 31.4%, 16.1%, 31.6%, and 6%, respectively. Sensitivity of two combinations was as high as 56.5%. Seventy-seven patients (39.9%) had clinical recurrence in the follow-up periods. For those with preoperatively elevated serum tumor markers, 38% (12/32) had CA72-4, 42% (13/31) had CA19-9, 48% (29/60) and had CEA, 54% (6/11) had CA125, and 62% (37/61) had TPA, and remained disease-free. Univariate analysis showed that TNM staging, Tumor size, Borrmann classification of tumor growth, and preoperative serum CA72-4 level were correlated with recurrence of disease. Multivariate analysis showed that independent prognostic factor of recurrence was TNM staging (P = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum CA72-4 level is correlated with staging of disease, but is not an independent predictor for clinical recurrence of disease in patients with gastric cancers that undergo surgery.     

结直肠癌患者根治术前血清CEA和CA19-9表达水平对预后的预测价值

目的探讨结直肠癌患者根治术前CEA、CA19-9水平对预后的预测价值。 方法回顾性分析复旦大学附属肿瘤医院2003年12月至2007年1月间491例接受根治性切除的Ⅱ、Ⅲ期结直肠癌患者临床资料,包括患者术前血清CEA和CA19-9水平、临床病理资料及预后情况。利用单变量和多变量分析患者年龄、性别、肿瘤部位、肿瘤分化、TNM分期、肿瘤侵犯深度及淋巴结转移个数与预后的关系。 结果患者术前血清CEA和CA19-9水平、TNM分期、淋巴结转移数、肿瘤侵犯深度、肿瘤的分化都与预后相关。在多变量分析中,CEA和CA19-9水平、TNM分期、肿瘤分化是总生存的独立预测因素,CA19-9水平、TNM分期、肿瘤分化是无病生存的独立预测因素。 结论术前血清CA19-9与CEA水平均对结直肠癌患者的预后有预测价值。CA19-9水平应该作为常规的术前检查指标,对CEA检测结果有补充作用。     

Diagnostic role and prognostic value of tumor markers in high-grade gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms

ObjectivesHigh-grade gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors of two different types: well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors grade 3 (NETs G3) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs). This study aimed to explore the value of eight common preoperative markers in differentiating NETs G3 from NECs and the prognosis prediction of high-grade GEP-NENs.MethodsSeventy-two patients diagnosed with high-grade GEP-NENs who underwent surgery at our institution were recruited for this study. Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics, preoperative serum tumor markers, and survival data were collected and analyzed. Kaplan–Meier methods were used to analyze survival rates, and a Cox regression model was used to perform multivariate analyses.ResultsSerum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was dramatically higher in NECs than in NETs G3 (P = 0.025). After follow-up, 57 of the 72 patients remained for survival analysis. Elevated serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), CEA, cancer antigen 125 and sialic acid (SA) levels indicated poorer survival of high-grade GEP-NEN patients. Only CA19-9 (HR: 6.901, 95% CI: 1.843 to 25.837, P = 0.004) was regarded as an independent risk factor for overall survival. Serum CA19-9 (HR: 4.689, 95% CI: 1.127 to 19.506, P = 0.034) was also regarded as an independent factor for overall survival in NECs.ConclusionsSerum CEA levels can be used to distinguish NETs G3 from NECs. Preoperative CA19-9, CEA, cancer antigen 125 and SA levels have predictive value in the prognosis of high-grade GEP-NENs. Preoperative CA19-9, neuron-specific enolase, and SA levels can predict the prognosis of NECs.     

术前血清CEA、CA19-9、CA50联合检测在结直肠癌肝转移预测中的应用

目的研究术前血清CEA、CA19-9、CA50联合检测在结直肠癌肝转移预测中的应用价值。 方法选择2015年1月至2017年1月在中国医学科学院肿瘤医院接受手术治疗的结直肠癌患者316例为研究对象,其中结直肠癌伴有肝转移的患者158例作为实验组,并按照性别、年龄等匹配结直肠癌不伴有肝转移的患者158例作为对照组。对所有患者的术前血清癌胚抗原（CEA）、糖类抗原19-9（CA19-9）以及糖类抗原50（CA50）进行检测,采用单因素及多因素分析以上肿瘤标志物单独或联合检测在结直肠癌肝转移中的预测价值。 结果单因素及多因素分析结果表明,术前血清CEA、CA19-9、CA50升高与结直肠癌发生肝转移显著相关（P<0.05）,CEA、CA19-9、CA50单独预测结直肠癌肝转移的敏感度分别为62.7%、57.4%、67.1%;特异度分别为58.2%、53.5%、56.6%。CEA、CA19-9、CA50联合诊断预测直肠癌肝转移的敏感度和特异度分别为74.3%、76.3%。 结论术前血清CEA、CA19-9、CA50升高是结直肠癌肝转移的独立预测因素,但三者单独预测结直肠癌肝转移的敏感度和特异度均较低。三者联合检测对于预测结直肠癌肝转移的敏感度和特异度均较高,可以作为结直肠癌肝转移的预测模型。     

Preoperative Serum CA125 Levels Predict the Prognosis in Hyperbilirubinemia Patients With Resectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is widely used to predict the prognosis for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, hyperbilirubinemia and the CA19-9 nonsecretor phenotype restrict the usage of serum CA19-9 alone. The goal of this study was to confirm the prognostic role of preoperative serum CA125 in PDAC, especially in patients with jaundice.A total of 211 patients with resected PDAC were eligible for this retrospective study, and were classified into 2 groups based on serum bilirubin levels. The prognostic significance of all clinicopathologic factors was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses, and the performance of each factor in predicting overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) was compared.High preoperative CA125, high TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis were independent risk predictors for OS and RFS in all patients and the 2 subgroups, but high CA19-9 was only significant when considering all patients and those with nonelevated bilirubin. Using time-dependent receiver-operating characteristic analysis, better predictive performance for OS and RFS was observed for serum CA19-9 as compared to serum CA125 in these patients.High serum CA125 can independently predict poor prognosis. Importantly, in PDAC patients with hyperbilirubinemia, preoperative serum CA125 can predict the prognosis, whereas CA19-9 cannot. Preoperative CA19-9 had better predictive performance for survival than CA125, and the performance of CA19-9 did not decline between all patients and those with nonelevated bilirubin, but was significantly affected by hyperbilirubinemia.     

Colorectal carcinoma liver metastases: clinical significance of preoperative measurement of serum carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels

The clinical significance of preoperative levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) was evaluated in patients with colorectal carcinoma liver metastases. Preoperative serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels, the number and size of liver metastases, and survival data were analyzed retrospectively in 73 patients. Using the cutoff level of 5 ng/ml for CEA and 37 U/ml for CA 19-9, the positivity of these for detecting metastatic deposits were 81% and 56%, respectively. CEA level was correlated with the number (P = 0.0081) and size (P = 0.013) of liver metastases among patients with positive CEA level, while CA 19-9 level was correlated only with the number of liver metastases (P = 0.0072) among those with positive CA 19-9 level. In the overall series, preoperative CEA and CA 19-9 levels were correlated significantly with survival only at higher cutoff levels. In 46 patients undergoing curative hepatectomy, however, these levels were not correlated with survival, even at higher cutoff levels. In conclusion, the CEA level is closely associated with the extent of liver metastases, while the CA 19-9 level may reflect multiplicity of hepatic deposits. Preoperative measurement of serum CEA and CA 19-9 levels appears to be of some prognostic value.     

Sensitivity of monoclonal antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen,tissue polypeptide antigen,alpha-fetoprotein,carbohydrate antigen 50, and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in the diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE: This study was designed to establish the sensitivity of monoclonal antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), carbohydrate antigen 50 (CA 50), and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and the efficacy of the joint determination of several tumor markers, as well as the dynamics of postoperative normalization of each marker in the absence of recurrence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out in 100 patients subjected to surgical resection of colon adenocarcinoma. Serum concentrations of these markers were determined the day before surgery and seven days, two months, and six months after surgery. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that sensitivity increased as the disease spread and that CA 19-9 was the most sensitive tumor marker. The rate of false negatives was 40 percent for Dukes Stage A lesions, 19 percent for Dukes Stage B, 7 percent for Dukes Stage C, and 0 percent for Dukes Stage D. Determination of two markers (CA 19-9 and CEA) provided the greatest sensitivity in Stages A and D tumors (60 percent and 100 percent, respectively); the incidence did not change when measurements of other antigens were associated. For Stages B and C, determination of at least three markers was necessary, the association of CEA, TPA, and CA 19-9 being that which showed the greatest sensitivity, 78 percent and 91 percent, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It would be advisable to include monoclonal antibody determination of CEA, TPA, and CA 19-9 in the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, despite the fact that ultimate sensitivity will depend on the degree of tumor extension or on the presence of metastasis.     

Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 is a valuable prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients with normal levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and may help predict lung metastasis

Purpose

We retrospectively analyzed preoperative levels of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients to determine the prognostic value of CA19-9 in CRC patients with normal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels.

Methods

A total of 639 patients who underwent curative surgery at Taipei Veterans General Hospital between 2002 and 2006 were enrolled. We excluded 254 patients (39.7?%) with high preoperative CEA levels and analyzed 385 patients with normal CEA levels. The measured endpoint was the postoperative disease-free survival (DFS). The prognostic value of CA19-9 was determined using log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.

Results

High CA19-9 levels were significantly associated with advanced disease and were detected in 5.8?% of patients with stage I disease, 11.7?% of those with stage II disease, and 22.5?% of those with stage III disease (P?P?Conclusions CA19-9 may be a prognostic factor for CRC patients with normal CEA levels. An aggressive follow-up protocol for lung metastasis should be used for these patients.     

胰腺癌患者血清CEMIP、CA19-9和CA242水平变化及其临床意义*

目的 研究胰腺癌患者血清CEMIP、CA19-9和CA242水平变化及其临床意义。方法 2013年4月～2016年8月我院诊治的92例胰腺癌患者、105例胰腺良性疾病患者和选择的83例健康人，采用ELISA法检测血清细胞迁移诱导透明质酸结合蛋白（CEMIP）水平，采用放射免疫法检测血清CA19-9和CA242水平。应用受试者工作特征曲线（ROC）下面积（AUC）评价各指标的诊断效能。采用Kaplan-Meier和Cox风险比例模型行生存分析。采用Logistic回归分析影响术后生存的因素。结果 胰腺癌患者血清CEMIP、CA19-9和CA242水平分别为0.7（0.4，1.0） ng/mL、180.1（89.1，230.3） U/mL和61.7（20.7，93.5）U/mL，均显著高于胰腺良性疾病患者和健康人，差异有统计学意义（P均<0.05）；应用血清CEMIP、CA19-9和CA242联合诊断胰腺癌的AUC为0.966，其诊断效能显著高于任一指标单独诊断；应用血清CEMIP、CA19-9和CA242水平预测胰腺癌患者根治术后1年生存的效能均较高；经Kaplan-Meier和Cox多因素分析，结果表明肿瘤分化程度、血管侵犯、术后化疗、血清CEMIP≥0.7 ng/mL、CA19-9≥90.3 U/mL和CA242≥32.8 U/mL均是影响胰腺癌患者根治术后生存的独立危险因素。结论 检测胰腺癌患者血清CEMIP、CA19-9和CA242水平可有助于对疾病的诊断和预后评估。     

The use of tumor markers as predictors of prognosis in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9) levels in patients with gastric cancer. METHODOLOGY: During the period January 2000 and January 2003, 36 patients operated for primary gastric cancer, at Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Department of General Surgery, were analyzed. Serum CEA and CA19-9 levels were determined preoperatively and the correlation between the elevated levels of tumor markers and several clinicopathological features, and survival were evaluated. RESULTS: Elevated serum CEA and CA19-9 levels were determined in 10 of 35 patients (28.6%), and 9 of 31 patients (29%), respectively, and both markers were elevated in 3 of 31 patients (9.6%). Elevated levels of CEA correlated with depth of invasion (p=0.018) and pathological stage (p=0.029); elevated levels of CA19-9 correlated with lymph node metastasis (p=0.026); and elevated levels of both markers correlated well with lymph node metastasis (p=0.031). The survival of patients with normal CEA levels was significantly better than those with elevated levels (p=0.0072). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum CEA and CA19-9 levels may add useful information in patients with gastric carcinoma, and CEA level is a predictor of prognosis.     

High level of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19-9 is a poor survival predictor in gastric cancer

AIM:To assess the clinical significance and the prognostic value of preoperative serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA 19-9)level in gastric cancer.METHODS:Between January 2005 and December2006,1960 patients underwent surgery for histologically confirmed gastric cancer.Of these,163 patients had elevated serum levels of CA 19-9 preoperatively,and1628 patients had normal serum levels of CA 19-9 preoperatively.For this study,325 patients were selected from the group of 1628 patients by age,sex,and cancer stage to serve as controls.Statistically significant differences in survival rates were calculated using the log-rank test.A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant and was determined using SAS software.RESULTS:The baseline characteristics showed some differences between the two groups with regard to histology.Overall survival(OS)in the elevated and nonelevated group was 37.90 and 68.67 mo,respectively(P<0.001).N stage(P=0.001)was a significant predictor of disease-free survival by multivariate analysis.Also,N stage(P<0.001),and the presence of peritoneal metastasis(P<0.001)remained independent factors in predicting OS by multivariate analysis.Additionally,preoperative serum CA 19-9 levels were significantly associated with OS in univariate(P=0.009)and multivariate(P=0.021)analyses.CONCLUSION:Serum CA 19-9 can be considered an independent prognostic factor in predicting OS in patients anticipating surgery for gastric cancer.     

An elevated CA 19-9 is associated with invasive cancer and worse survival in IPMN

BackgroundCurrent guidelines for IPMN include an elevated serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 among the worrisome features. However, the correlation of CA 19-9 with histological malignant features and survival is unclear. Serum CEA is also currently used for preoperative management of IPMN, although its measurement is not evidence-based. Accordingly, we aimed to assess the role of these tumor markers as predictors of malignancy in IPMN.MethodsIPMN resected between 1998 and 2018 at Massachusetts General Hospital were analyzed. Clinical, pathological and survival data were collected and compared to preoperative levels of CA 19-9 and CEA. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Cox regression analyses were performed considering cut-offs of 37 U/ml (CA 19-9) and 5 μg/l (CEA).ResultsAnalysis of 594 patients showed that preoperative CA 19-9 levels > 37 U/ml (n = 128) were associated with an increased likelihood of invasive carcinoma when compared to normal levels (45.3% vs. 18.0%, P < 0.001), while there was no difference with respect to high-grade dysplasia (32.9% vs 31.9%, P = 0.88). The proportion of concurrent pancreatic cancer was higher in patients with CA 19-9 > 37 U/ml (17.2% vs 4.9%, P < 0.001). An elevated CA 19-9 was also associated with worse overall and disease-free survival (HR = 1.943, P = 0.007 and HR = 2.484, P < 0.001 respectively). CEA levels did not correlate with malignancy.ConclusionIn patients with IPMN, serum CA19-9 > 37 U/ml is associated with invasive IPMN and concurrent pancreatic cancer as well as worse survival, but not with high-grade dysplasia. Serum CEA appears to have minimal utility in the management of these patients.     

Diagnostic value of the assay of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in patients with primary bronchial cancer

We studied the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in 90 patients with primary lung cancer. One or both markers were increased in 45 patients (50%): CEA only was increased in 13, CA 19-9 only was increased in 19, and both CEA and CA 19-9 were increased in 13. Increase of markers did not differ according to histologic subtype of cancer. Increase or decrease of the markers (mainly CA 19-9) usually parallelled evolution of the disease in our patients. Thus, measurement of both CEA and CA 19-9 levels are of diagnostic value in half the patients with primary lung cancer.     

Significance of multiple tumor markers measurements in conversion surgery for unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the significance of multiple tumor markers (TMs) measurements in determining the indications for conversion surgery (CS) in the management of unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer (UR-LAPC).MethodsA total of 103 patients with UR-LAPC, treated between 2008 and June 2021, were enrolled in this study. Three TMs, including carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and Duke pancreatic monoclonal antigen type 2 (DUPAN-2), were measured.ResultsTwenty-five patients (24%) underwent CS. The median preoperative treatment period was 9.5 months. The median survival time (MST) from the initial treatment for patients with CS was significantly longer than that for patients without surgery (34.6 vs. 18.9 months, P < 0.001). The number of elevated TMs before CS was one in five patients and two in five patients, while 15 patients had normal levels of all three TMs. Notably, the MST from the initial treatment for patients with all three preoperative normal TMs levels was favorable for 70.5 months. In contrast, patients with one or two preoperatively elevated TMs levels had a significantly worse prognosis (25.4 and 21.0 months, respectively, P < 0.001). Furthermore, the relapse-free survival of patients with three preoperative normal TMs levels was significantly longer than those with one or two elevated TMs levels (21.9 vs. 11.3 or 3.0 months, respectively, P < 0.001). Non-normal values of all TMs before CS were identified as independent poor prognostic factors.ConclusionsSimultaneous measurement and assessment of the three TMs levels may help determine the surgical indications for UR-LAPC after systemic anticancer treatment.     

Preoperative staging of periampullar cancer with US, CT, EUS and CA 19-9

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several diagnostic methods are available for preoperative staging of periampullary cancers. It happens that on the basis of preoperative findings the patient is prepared for radical surgery, but during the operation the lesion turns out to be unresectable. METHODOLOGY: We studied 43 patients operated on for periampullary cancer. Preoperatively, all patients were evaluated by ultrasonography, computed tomography, endoscopic ultrasonography and the level of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 was assessed. Statistical parameters were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Endoscopic ultrasonography has specificity of 70.8% and positive predictive value regarding tumor resectability 55.8%. Computed tomography has a specificity of 45.8% and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 of 66.7%. Positive predictive value for computed tomography and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 is 40.6% and 52.6%, respectively. Ultrasonography is the least accurate method with specificity of 12.5% and positive predictive value 29.7%. A combined use of different diagnostic methods has higher positive predictive value, highest (65.1%) being found for the combination of endoscopic ultrasonography and carbohydrate antigen 19-9. Statistical tests showed statistically significant differences between diagnostic methods. CONCLUSIONS: Among the diagnostic methods studied, endoscopic ultrasonography showed the highest accuracy in predicting tumor resectability. The use of either endoscopic ultrasonography and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 or computed tomography and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 is accurate enough for assessing tumor resectability.     

Factors affecting surgical outcome for gallbladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The outcome of advanced gallbladder carcinoma is dismal despite aggressive surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome and prognostic factors for patients with gallbladder carcinoma and to identify patients who may benefit from radical surgery. METHODOLOGY: Fifty-six patients who underwent surgical resection of gallbladder carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. Their tumor markers, operative management, pathological factors and survival were analyzed. RESULTS: The serum carcinoembryonic antigen level was elevated in 9 of 51 patients (18%) with data available as was the serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 level in 14 of 47 patients (30%). Univariate analysis showed that jaundice, serum carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels, the number, size, macroscopic type, and histological grade of the tumor, the depth of tumor invasion (pT), pathological stage, lymph node metastasis (pN), lymphatic invasion, vascular invasion, perineural infiltration, curability of lymph node dissection and surgical margins have prognostic significance for survival. Multivariate analysis revealed jaundice, high histological grade, pT3 or pT4, and surgical margins were independent prognostic factors for survival. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels are potential predictors and informative for survival. There are still difficulties to treat gallbladder carcinoma infiltrating beyond subserosa or revealing jaundice.     

Can preoperative CA19‐9 and CEA levels predict the resectability of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma?

Background: We aimed to explore the predictive ability of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA19‐9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels for assessing tumor resectability (R0 resection) in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Methods: The present study included 72 patients who had been treated surgically for potentially resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 42 patients who had been treated surgically for palliation (bypass surgery) at our institution. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was histologically confirmed by pathological examination of the resected specimen or, if unresected, by intraoperative biopsy. Results: For resectable disease, the mean and median values of CA19‐9 were significantly lower than for R1/2 or unresectable disease. The best cut‐off points for CEA, CA19‐9, and tumor size to predict resectability were 2.47 ng/mL, 92.77 U/mL and 11.85 cm³, respectively. A CA19‐9 ≥ 92.77 U/mL and both tumor markers no less than the cut‐off levels predicted the possibility of R1/2 or unresectability with 90.6% and 88.6% accuracy, respectively. However, either tumor marker or both tumor markers less than the cut‐off levels predicted the probability of R0 resection only with 27.1% and 40.6% accuracy, respectively. The independent contributing factors to resectability (R0 resection) by multivariate regression analysis were a CA 19‐9 < 92.77 U/mL, a tumor size < 11.85 cm³, and a less advanced AJCC stage. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that preoperative serum CA19‐9 and CEA levels can be used for the prediction of resectability (R0 resection) in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which may enable a simple and cost‐effective exclusion of such patients who are unlikely to benefit from surgery.     

Glycoprotein tumour markers in head and neck neoplasms —a consecutive study on CA-50, CA 19-9, and CEA

Summary Serum levels of three glycoprotein tumour antigens (carcino-embryonic antigen, CEA; cancer-associated antigen 50, CA-50; gastrointestinal cancer-associated antigen, CA 19-9) were determined on 125 consecutive patients with tumours of the head and neck region. Elevated CEA values (> 5 units/ml) were found in 13/70 squamous cell carcinomas, 3/21 benign and 4/18 malignant salivary gland neoplasms. Elevated CA-50 values (> 17 units/ml) were found in 19/70 squamous cell carcinomas, 6/18 malignant and 1/21 benign salivary neoplasms. CA 19-9 displayed higher values (> 37 units/ml) in 9/68 squamous cell carcinomas, 4/18 malignant and none of 21 benign salivary gland tumours. Combination of CEA and CA-50 analyses increased the proportion of elevated values to 30/70 in squamous cell carcinomas and 10/18 in salivary gland malignancies. In squamous cell carcinomas no correlation between staging or grading and serum levels was detected for any of the markers. Among malignant salivary gland tumours, CA-50 displayed enhanced serum values in 4/6 mucoepidermoid carcinomas. The mean values for CA-50 and CA 19-9 serum levels were significantly higher for malignant salivary gland neoplasms compared to benign tumours. There was a close correlation between CA-50 and CA 19-9 serum levels. Although, the results suggest that at present none of the tumour markers tested have a place alone in the routine examination of patients with tumours affecting the head and neck region, further studies on salivary gland neoplasms and combinations of the tumour markers are justified.This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Society for Cancer Research and Lions Research Foundation, Umeå Sweden     

Value of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 for predicting extrahepatic metastasis in patients with liver metastasis from colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) are frequently elevated in patients with colorectal carcinoma. However, the predictive utility of these two markers has not been fully investigated in patients with liver metastasis. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively analyzed data obtained from 90 hepatectomy or non-hepatectomy patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma. We examined correlation between serum levels of CEA and CA19-9 and other clinicopathologic factors and performed univariate and multivariate analyses to determine the impact of these tumor markers on extrahepatic metastasis after admission to our hospital. RESULTS: CEA elevation correlated to advanced age (> or = 60 years), and CA19-9 elevation correlated with the site (colon) of primary tumor. Univariate analysis showed that treatment without hepatectomy, > or = 4 hepatic tumors, and CA19-9 elevation had been an adverse effect on extrahepatic disease-free survival time after admission. Multivariate analysis showed that CA19-9 elevation (risk ratio, 1.84) and treatment without hepatectomy (risk ratio, 1.62) had a significant effect on extrahepatic disease-free time. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with colorectal liver metastasis, elevation of serum CA19-9 is a risk factor for extrahepatic metastasis, and CEA appears to be useless for predicting extrahepatic metastasis in these patients.