Altered immunoglobulin A (IgA-1) levels in patients with advanced colorectal adenocarcinoma presenting with normal preoperative levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
We investigated the value of serum IgA-1 as a complementary tumour marker to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the monitoring of the postoperative follow-up of 19 patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma presenting with normal levels of CEA. Mean follow-up period was 14 months (range 2-72 months). Mean number of serum specimens was 5 (range 2-9). IgA-1 assay employed rabbit antihuman IgA for binding IgA-1 from patient's serum and peanut agglutinin to detect the IgA-1 O-glycosidic structure. Ten patients developed distant metastases while nine patients had locoregional recurrence. All 19 patients had generally persistent elevation of serum IgA-1 throughout the follow-up period while serum CEA levels were subsequently elevated in only 10 patients. IgA-1 predicted recurrence with an average lead time of 8 months (range 1-19 months). On the other hand, mean lag time for CEA was 12 months (range 6-50 months). The data indicate the clinical utility of serum IgA-1 as a potential complementary tumour marker to CEA in the monitoring of the postoperative course of this particular subset of colorectal cancer patients.
Petrelli
N J
NJ
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Department of Surgical Oncology, Buffalo, New York 14263.
Cajucom
C C
CC
Rodriguez-Bigas
M
M
Henslee
J
J
Bhargava
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010166:Palliative Care; D012016:Reference Values
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D007070:Immunoglobulin A