title: TAF test in primary esophageal carcinoma: comparison with other tumor markers.
abstract: An ELISA method for the determination of circulating specific HSV-TAA antibodies has recently become available (TAF test). The presence of TAF was tested in serum of 154 patients with primary esophageal carcinoma, collected in three institutions. The overall TAF-test positivity rate was 57.1%, being significantly lower in stage IV than in stage III patients. The concordance rate between TAF and CEA, ferritin, TPA, SCC and TATI was low, suggesting that TAF is probably independent of the other tumor markers evaluated. The clinical role of TAF-test determination in patients with esophageal carcinoma is currently under evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Central Analysis Laboratory, ULSS 4, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Taccone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gion
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pecchio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapellino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tremolada
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mione
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruol
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Segalin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dei Poli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor