Factors influencing growth rate of recurrent stomach cancers as determined by analysis of serum carcinoembryonic antigen.
BACKGROUND
Although there are many reports regarding the growth rate of human tumors, those discussing stomach cancer are rare due to the difficulty in evaluating the growth rate of stomach cancer. Stomach cancers grow with either a large central depression or through severe invasion. Metastatic sites of stomach cancer, however, grow expandingly, as with pulmonary tumors.


METHODS
The reported doubling time estimate, based on the serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), agreed with the actual tumor doubling time investigated in 112 previously untreated patients with recurrent gastric cancers. The influencing factors of the CEA doubling time were studied clinicopathologically, and a possible correlation between postoperative survival and the CEA doubling time was noted.


RESULTS
The CEA doubling time ranged from 12 to 105 days, with a mean of 37.5 +/- 20.5 days (mean +/- standard deviation) and a median of 32 days. The CEA doubling time did not differ significantly between sexes or between patients of varying ages. However, the CEA doubling time was significantly shorter in patients with papillary adenocarcinoma than in those with well or moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma. The CEA doubling time of patients with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma was divided into two groups--a shorter one and a longer one. The doubling time was also significantly shorter in patients with liver metastasis than in those with lymph node metastasis or peritoneal dissemination. Furthermore, among patients who did not receive any chemotherapy, a significant correlation was observed between the CEA doubling time and postoperative survival time. Most treated patients survived longer than untreated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The influencing factors on growth rates in recurrent stomach cancers were histologic type and metastatic sites. This growth rate plays an important role in determining the degree of biologic malignancy and may be influenced by some chemotherapeutic regimens.
Takahashi
Y
Y
Department of Surgery, Kanazawa University, Japan.
Mai
M
M
Kusama
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen