[Evaluation of pancreatic oncofetal antigen (POA) in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer].
Pancreatic oncofetal antigen (POA) is considered to be an oncofetal antigen for human pancreas, and its measurement seems to be useful in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. In this study, POA, CEA, ferritin, BMG (beta 2 microglobulin) and AFP either in sera in pancreatic juice were measured in patients with pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis and other various diseases, and their diagnostic value was comparatively evaluated. POA showed the highest sensitivity for pancreatic cancer compared with CEA or others. POA and CEA in pancreatic juice showed higher sensitivity and specificity than those in serum, probably reflecting the earlier malignant status. Localization of POA was immunohistochemically observed in tissues of pancreatic cancer and fetal pancreas. In some cases of pancreatic cancer with elevated serum CEA, ferritin and BMG, only CEA was positive in cancer cells, indicating that CEA is produced from cancer cells while ferritin and BMG are not produced from them. The combined assay of POA and CEA improved sensitivity for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It is concluded that POA could be a useful tumor marker providing valuable information in the clinical diagnostic system of pancreatic cancer.
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D010189:Pancreatic Juice / Q000032:analysis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; C031192:oncofetal antigens