title: Cytokeratin 8 and 18 fragments measured in serum and their relation to survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study we investigated if the newly developed monoclonal antibodies against Cytokeratin 8 and 18 fragments (Cyk 8/18) have prognostic information in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum from 69 patients with NSCLC was investigated using a sandwich ELISA, Cyk 8/18, provided by IDL Biotech, Sollentuna Sweden.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cyk 8/18 levels varied between 0.34-14.2 ng/mL, compared with a cut-off value of 1.0 ng/mL for healthy individuals (95% specificity). Using that cut-off value, 80% of NSCLC patients had elevated levels. A statistically significant diminished survival was found for Cyk 8/18 values of 8.0 ng/mL or higher (p = 0.0001). When survival data and Cyk 8/18 levels were analysed according to continuous Cox regression analysis, increased levels of Cyk 8/18 were significantly related to decreased survival (p = 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Cyk 8/18 monoclonal antibody had in this study prognostic information regarding survival in patients with NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Akademiska Hospital, Uppsala University, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergqvist
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brattström
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hesselius
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wiklund
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Silen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wagenius
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brodin
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000097:blood*; D015993:Life Tables; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D007633:Keratins