title: Tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 50, and CA 19-9 and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Pretreatment screening.
abstract: Pretreatment serum levels of the tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 50, and CA 19-9 in 95 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and 32 age-matched controls were compared. Thirty-nine percent of the cancer patients showed elevated (greater than or equal to 5 micrograms/l) serum CEA levels, 41% had elevated (greater than or equal to 17 U/ml) CA 50 levels, and 13% showed elevated (greater than or equal to 37 U/ml) CA 19-9 levels. The tumor markers showed a considerable degree of complementarity, and combined tumor marker analysis increased the sensitivity to 59%. Raised CEA levels were found significantly more frequently in intrathoracically localized tumors than in cervical cancers. Patients surviving less than 6 months showed a higher rate of elevated CEA assays than those who survived 6 to 18 months. No certain correlation was established between tumor marker elevation and tumor stage or tumor differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munck-Wikland
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuylenstierna
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wahren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haglund
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen