The clinical value of Cyfra 21-1 estimation for lung cancer patients.
Cytokeratin-19, one of the cytoskeletal proteins, is expressed both in bronchial epithelium and in lung cancer cells. The aim of our study was to establish the value of serum cytokeratin-19 soluble fragment (Cyfra 21-1) measurement in lung cancer patients. Cyfra 21-1 levels were estimated in 35 patients (pts) with benign lung diseases and in 116 lung cancer patients: 55 pts with squamous cell lung cancer, 38 pts with small cell lung cancer and 23 pts with adenocarcinoma. The cutoff level was set at 4 ng/ml with a specificity of 94% and a sensitivity of 40%. Elevated Cyfra 21-1 values were found in 44% of squamous cell lung cancer, 39% of adenocarcinoma and 34% of small cell lung cancer pts (the difference was not significant). In squamous cell lung cancer and in adenocarcinoma elevated Cyfra 21-1 values were observed more often in patients with advanced disease than in patients with limited disease. There was no significant correlation between the initial Cyfra 21-1 level and the response to chemotherapy. Cyfra 21-1 was not a prognostic indicator, although in operable squamous cell lung cancer the proportion of survivors in the second year of observation was higher among the patients with normal preoperative Cyfra 21-1 levels.
Dept. of Internal Medicine, Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases, Warsaw, Poland.
M
M
Szturmowicz
A
A
Sakowicz
P
P
Rudzinski
J
J
Zych
E
E
Wiatr
J
J
Zaleska
E
E
Rowinska-Zakrzewska
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053539:Keratin-19; D007633:Keratins; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013534:Survival
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053539:Keratin-19; C102012:antigen CYFRA21.1; D007633:Keratins