title: Tumor markers in serum of patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: Serum levels of several tumor markers were studied in 96 patients with untreated primary squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Three markers specific for digestive tract malignancies--CEA, CA19.9 and CA50--and two non organ specific indicators of malignancy--ferritin and TPA--were evaluated. Positivity rates of CA19.9 and CA50 were very low (4.4% and 8.6% respectively); the markers were therefore considered ineffective in the disease. CEA, TPA and ferritin showed a fair positivity rate (27.1%, 28.1%, 33.7% respectively); CEA and TPA were directly related to clinical stage, CEA levels being significantly higher in stage IV than in stage III cases (p = 0.016). TPA preoperatory levels were also directly related to a lower survival probability (p = 0.004). CEA showed significantly lower levels in tumors of lower than in those of middle (p = 0.03) and upper esophagus (p = 0.004). TPA showed a similar behaviour with lower levels in tumors of lower than of middle esophagus (p = 0.03). These findings could be due to a bulky metabolism of tumor markers drained via portail vein in the liver. From our data the following conclusions may be drawn: 1) CEA and TPA may be useful in the staging of esophageal cancer as an ancillary tool to assess the extent of the disease; 2) tumor location is an important variable when evaluating blood levels of tumor markers in patients with esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiotherapy, Regional General Hospital, USSL, Venice, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gion
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tremolada
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mione
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: della Palma
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dittadi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nosadini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castoro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruol
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peracchia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000032:analysis; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D006023:Glycoproteins; D010455:Peptides; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen; D005293:Ferritins