title: Correlation of elevated C1q binding activity and carcinoembryonic antigen levels with clinical features and prognosis in bronchogenic carcinoma.
abstract: The presence of immune complexes and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was investigated in 50 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma at the time of and/or following diagnostic or definitive surgery. Immune complexes were measured by the C1q binding test and CEA by the Z gel method and elevations defined as values in excess of 2 S.D. above the normal mean, greater than or equal to 9.2% for C1q binding activity (C1q-BA) and greater than or equal to 5.0 ng/ml for CEA. The overall incidence of elevated values was 30.7% for C1q-BA and 34.2% for CEA. There was a greater incidence of elevated values of C1q-BA among patients with clinically evident disease. The differences with respect to CEA elevation were not significant due to the fact that 6 of 9 samples with elevated CEA values obtained from patients with no evident disease were in fact associated with the presence of clinically undetectable disease in these patients. Elevation of C1q-BA and CEA beyond the immediate postoperative period was predictive of a significantly shorter median survival time. The most significant differences in survival time were seen between patients with normal values for C1q-BA and CEA and those with elevations of one or both parameters, 6.0 vs. 19.5 months (p less than 0.001). Elevation of either parameter during the immediate pre- and postoperative period was not predictive of a poor survival. In terms of clinical application, it appears that CEA estimation had the best predictive value but that the addition of C1q-BA measurement may provide additional prognostic information, particularly in patients who do not have elevated CEA values.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000276:immunology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000276:immunology; D003172:Complement C1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D003172:Complement C1