title: Glycoprotein tumour markers in head and neck neoplasms--a consecutive study on CA-50, CA 19-9, and CEA.
abstract: Serum levels of three glycoprotein tumour antigens (carcino-embryonic antigen, CEA; cancer-associated antigen 50, CA-50; gastrointestinal cancer-associated antigen, CA 19-9) were determined on 125 consecutive patients with tumours of the head and neck region. Elevated CEA values (greater than 5 units/ml) were found in 13/70 squamous cell carcinomas, 3/21 benign and 4/18 malignant salivary gland neoplasms. Elevated CA-50 values (greater than 17 units/ml) were found in 19/70 squamous cell carcinomas, 6/18 malignant and 1/21 benign salivary neoplasms. CA 19-9 displayed higher values (greater than 37 units/ml) in 9/68 squamous cell carcinomas, 4/18 malignant and none of 21 benign salivary gland tumours. Combination of CEA and CA-50 analyses increased the proportion of elevated values to 30/70 in squamous cell carcinomas and 10/18 in salivary gland malignancies. In squamous cell carcinomas no correlation between staging or grading and serum levels was detected for any of the markers. Among malignant salivary gland tumours, CA-50 displayed enhanced serum values in 4/6 mucoepidermoid carcinomas. The mean values for CA-50 and CA 19-9 serum levels were significantly higher for malignant salivary gland neoplasms compared to benign tumours. There was a close correlation between CA-50 and CA 19-9 serum levels. Although, the results suggest that at present none of the tumour markers tested have a place alone in the routine examination of patients with tumours affecting the head and neck region, further studies on salivary gland neoplasms and combinations of the tumour markers are justified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Umeå University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franzén
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grankvist
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anniko
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henriksson
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen