title: [Significance of certain neoplastic markers in a series of patients with lung cancer].
abstract: Perchloric acid soluble proteins (PPS) and their content of N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA) may serve as valuable tumor markers for a variety of malignant neoplasms. To evaluate their clinical significance, PPS, NANA and carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) were measured in 32 patients with lung cancer. High PPS (greater than or equal to 0,73 mg/ml) and NANA (greater than or equal to 96 micrograms/ml) levels occurred in 8 of 50 (16%) healthy volunteers and respectively in 22% and 54% of patients. CEA levels were high (greater than or equal to 3 ng/ml) in 1 out of 21 (5%) healthy volunteers and in 83% of the patients; 84% of the patients showed an elevation of NANA and of CEA. The highest values of the three markers seem to be associated with extensive disease but no statistically significant difference has emerged from the comparison of patients with limited disease with the ones with extensive involvement. Changes of the tumor mass correlate with changes of serum levels of PPS, NANA and CEA. It is concluded that CEA determination is clinically valuable in lung cancer, while PPS and NANA do not provide greater information.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010472:Perchlorates / Q000032:analysis; D012794:Sialic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010472:Perchlorates; D012794:Sialic Acids
vernacular_title: Significato di alcuni marcatori di neoplasia in una casistica di pazienti affetti da carcinoma polmonare.