title: Carcinoembryonic antigen, alphafetoprotein and alpha and beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin in plasma of children with acute leukaemia.
abstract: The plasma carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein and the alpha and beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 44 children with acute leukaemia. These markers were determined repeatedly every 3 months at different stages of the disease (at onset, in complete remission, during bone marrow and extramedullary relapse). Elevated CEA levels were present in 64% of children at the onset of acute leukaemia and during bone marrow relapse. Elevated CEA levels decreased during induction treatment and they became normal with attainment of complete remission. In 7/12 patients who developed bone marrow relapse elevated CEA levels and in 4 of them raised levels appeared 3-4 months before there had been any other evidence of relapse. In 6/13 patients with extramedullary relapse, elevated CEA levels were found. AFP, alpha and beta hCG values in different stages of the disease were elevated sporadically; they did not reflect the activity of leukaemia.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D005260:Female; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins