title: Tumor markers in pancreatic cancer. Sensitivity and specificity of CA 19-9.
abstract: The tumor marker CA 19-9 is based on monoclonal antibody to colonic carcinoma cell lines. In this study, the utility of the tumor marker in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma was evaluated. CA 19-9 is strongly expressed in most tissue specimens obtained from pancreatic carcinomas. However, this antigen is also found in normal pancreas and specimens from chronic pancreatitis. The CA 19-9 is released into the circulation, and was found at increased concentrations (greater than 37 U/ml) in 87% of the patients with pancreatic carcinoma n = 145, as compared with only 13% in the group of patients with benign diseases n = 1,081 and 29% of those with extrapancreatic malignancies n = 691 (P less than 0.0001). The preoperatively raised CA 19-9 concentration in patients with stage I pancreatic carcinoma decreases after curative resection of the carcinoma to values within the normal range. However, in no CA 19-9 estimation following palliative surgical intervention of stage III and IV patients or in cases of inoperable carcinomas was a serum concentration of less than 37 U/ml recorded. Accordingly, the median survival of stage I patients was 29 months, and of stage III, IV and patients with inoperable carcinomas 6 months only.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University of Ulm, F.R.G.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Safi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roscher
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Beger
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010180:Pancreatectomy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor