title: [Determination of the tumor marker CA 72-4 in gastric carcinoma].
abstract: In this study, the authors determined the sensitivity and specificity of the new tumor marker CA 72-4 in detecting adenocarcinoma of the stomach. CA 72-4 serum levels were investigated in 279 patients consisting of: 100 control subjects, 88 patients with benign gastrointestinal disease and 91 patients with gastrointestinal cancer (31 with gastric cancer). We used a cut-off of 5 U/ml. The specificity of CA 72-4 was 91% and the sensitivity was 68%. Highest levels of CA 72-4 were found in patients with more advanced tumor (stages III-IV) and four of 5 patients with stage I had elevated levels of this tumor marker. These findings suggest that the use of serum CA 72-4 measurements may be more useful than other tumor markers in the diagnosis, prognosis and detection of recurrence in patients with gastric cancer. Although CA 72-4 can be elevated in other gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas, it can be useful in alerting the clinician to the possible presence of an intraabdominal neoplasm.
authors: Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo, Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Martín-Pérez
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fernández-Arjona
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Baza
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Villanueva
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Larrañaga
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Serrano
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Clerigué
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate
vernacular_title: Determinación del marcador tumoral CA 72-4 en el carcinoma gástrico.