title: Comparison of CA-50, a new tumour marker, with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in patients with gastrointestinal diseases.
abstract: Serum levels were determined in 434 patients with benign and malignant gastrointestinal diseases and compared with the serum concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The highest proportion of elevated CA-50 levels (greater than 17 U ml-1) was found in patients with pancreatic cancer (73%). High levels were mainly associated with advanced cancer, but also half of the patients with a resectable pancreatic tumour had an increased CA-50 concentration. The CA-50 level was elevated in 37-58% of patients with colorectal, gastric, hepatocellular and biliary tract cancers. In all gastrointestinal cancers, CA-50 gave additional information compared with CEA and AFP, except in hepatocellular carcinoma where AFP was the best marker.
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D012698:Serologic Tests; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins