title: Diagnostic value of cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) detected by monoclonal antibodies (115D8 and DF3) in exudative pleural effusions.
abstract: Pleural fluid levels of the cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) detected by monoclonal antibodies (115D8 and DF3) were determined in 40 patients with carcinomatous pleural effusions and in 41 patients with tuberculous pleural effusions. Using a cut off level of 16 U/ml, 15 of the 40 carcinomatous fluids but none of the 41 tuberculous fluids were positive. Pleural fluid levels of CA15-3 were not correlated with those of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). Combined assay of CEA and CA15-3, or CA19-9 and CA15-3, increased the positive rate from 79 to 82% and from 67 to 73%, respectively. Measurement of pleural fluid CA15-3 levels are less useful in separating carcinomatous from tuberculous effusions than is measurement of CEA or CA19-9.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimokata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Totani
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawatsu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murate
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ichiyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurasawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen