title: CEA, CA 19-9, and CA-50 in monitoring gastric carcinoma.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the clinical utility of CEA, CA 19-9, and CA-50 in the diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis of 62 gastric carcinoma patients having either adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy. Patients were divided in two groups: group A included patients treated on an adjuvant basis following a curative resection of gastric cancer, and group B included patients with residual disease post surgery or patients with inoperable tumor or generalized disease. Serum marker levels were measured in a prospective study just before the initiation of chemotherapy and before each course during chemotherapy. In group A, CEA was positive in 2/25 (8%) patients, CA 19-9 in 1/25 (4%), and CA-50 in 1/25 (4%). In group B the sensitivity of CEA was 48.6% (18/37 patients), of CA 19-9 64.9% (27/37 patients), and of CA-50 70.3% (26/37) patients. There was a significant correlation between the CA 19-9 and CA-50 levels in both groups. No correlation was found between the sensitivity or the absolute initial marker levels and the tumor's differentiation or extent of disease. In group A the only patient with initially elevated CA 19-9 and CA-50 values relapsed early while he was on adjuvant chemotherapy. It was also found that the rising final CA 19-9 and CA-50 values at the end of chemotherapy were correlated with an increased incidence of relapse, but not with the disease-free interval. In group B the initially low marker levels showed a trend to predict a favorable outcome of treatment. There was no statistically significant correlation between the marker titers before each course and response to chemotherapy. It is concluded that the comeasurement of CA 19-9 and CA-50, and to some degree of CEA, is justifiable for gastric cancer. The estimation of CA 19-9 and CA-50 may be useful for early detection of recurrence after curative surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. In advanced or recurrent gastric cancer, the estimation of either CA 19-9 or CA-50 and CEA serum values may help in checking the prognosis, determining the efficacy of palliative treatment modalities, and recognizing recurrences.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxas Memorial Cancer Hospital, Piraous, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pectasides
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mylonakis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kostopoulou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Triantafillis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Varthalitis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dimitriades
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanassiou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; C082699:CA-50 antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D015251:Epirubicin; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin