title: The role of serum tumour markers to aid the selection of lung cancer patients for surgery and the assessment of prognosis.
abstract: We have measured the following ten serum proteins in a sample of 290 patients presenting with possible lung cancer: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin (FER), prealbumin (PAB), third component of complement (C3), immunoglobin E (IgE), alpha 2-pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-m) and retinol binding protein (RBP). It is found that, with the exception of PAG, C3 and IgE, there are significant differences between protein concentrations in the subsequently diagnosed cancer and non-cancer patients. However, protein concentrations in the cancer patients who were suitable for surgery do not differ significantly from the concentrations in inoperable patients. The prognostic significance of the proteins in the inoperable and operable cancer patients is also envisaged. In the operable group C3 appears to be useful, whilst AGP and RBP are prognostic indicators in the inoperable group.
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins