title: Is serum beta 2-microglobulin a tumor marker in gastrointestinal cancer?
abstract: Serial determinations of serum beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) and carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) were performed in 314 patients with histologically confirmed gastrointestinal cancer. The data were correlated with a set of clinical parameters. Pre-operative serum beta 2m levels did not discriminate different classes of tumor extension nor different stages of resectability of tumors in contrast to CEA. During post-operative surveillance the correlation of the time courses of serum beta 2m and CEA with the clinical course of malignant disease was studied in a selected group of 165 patients with resected primary carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. During the follow-up 74/165 patients showed disease progression or recurrence. In the beta 2m follow-up 66% false negative indications (49/74) of malignant disease were observed, whereas in the CEA follow-up it was 5% (4/74). The ratio of correct positive/false positive indications was 25/10 in the beta 2m follow-up and 70/10 in the CEA follow-up. The data indicate that the formation of serum beta 2m is not directly tumor associated in gastrointestinal cancer.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001609:Beta-Globulins / Q000032:analysis*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D001609:Beta-Globulins; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin