Serum carcinoembryonic antigen level and pleural lavage cytology in woman with non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: The prognostic impact of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and pleural lavage cytology (PLC) in female patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were examined. METHODS: A consecutive series of 122 women with NSCLC who underwent surgical resection and PLC were included in the study. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rate of patients with preoperative serum normal and elevated CEA levels was 86.79 % and 58.46 %, respectively ( P = 0.0032). Positive PLC was present in 9/122 (7.38 %) of patients. The 5-year survival rate of patients with positive PLC findings was 33.33 %, which was significantly poor compared with that of patients with negative findings (83.16 %, P = 0.0010). Multivariate analysis indicated that pN status, preoperative serum CEA levels and PLC findings were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative serum CEA level and PLC findings were independent prognostic factors for female patients with NSCLC.