CA 19-9 in evaluating the response to chemotherapy in advanced pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The determination of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) level is useful in managing pancreatic cancer. However, the usefulness of this marker in evaluating the response to chemotherapy has not been fully established.


METHODS
Serial changes of serum CA 19-9 levels were studied during chemotherapy in 66 pancreatic cancer patients who showed CA 19-9 level of 100 U/ml or greater before treatment. We investigated the relationship between patient survival and reduction in serum CA 19-9 level after treatment.


RESULTS
When a responder was defined as a patient whose serum CA 19-9 level was reduced by more than 50% of the pre-treatment level within 2 months after treatment, CA 19-9 response was observed in 9 (13%) of the 66 patients. Median survival times of CA 19-9 responders and non-responders were 141 and 88 days, respectively. Based on Cox regression analysis, the relative risk of cancer death in CA 19-9 responders for non-responders was 0.47 (95% confidence interval, 0.21 to 1.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CA 19-9 reduction may be useful for assessing the efficacy of chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer.
Ishii
H
H
Department of Internal Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Okada
S
S
Sato
T
T
Wakasugi
H
H
Saisho
H
H
Furuse
J
J
Ishikawa
O
O
Matsuno
S
S
Yokoyama
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen