Clinical utility of CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 in the follow-up of patients with resectable gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the serum tumor markers CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 in the early diagnosis of recurrence of gastric cancer.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-three patients who had undergone potentially curative surgery were considered. Serum samples were obtained preoperatively, 1 week after surgery, and at every follow-up examination. Mean follow-up time for the entire patient population was 41 +/- 33 months, and 71 +/- 27 months for patients classified as disease-free.


RESULTS
Preoperative positivity was 16% for CEA, 35% for CA 19-9, and 20% for CA 72-4. Recurrence of disease was found in 75 patients (56%). Marker sensitivity in recurrent cases was 44% for CEA, 56% for CA 19-9, and 51% for CA 72-4; the combined use of the three markers increased sensitivity to 87%, which reached 100% in patients with positive preoperative levels. Marker specificity, evaluated in 58 disease-free patients, was 79% for CEA, 74% for CA 19-9, and 97% for CA 72-4.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined assay of CEA, CA 19-9, and CA 72-4 may be useful for early diagnosis of recurrence of gastric cancer; however, only CA 72-4 positivity should be considered a specific predictor of tumor recurrence.
Marrelli
D
D
Istituto di Scienze Chirurgiche, U.O. Chirurgia Oncologica, University of Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy.
Pinto
E
E
De Stefano
A
A
Farnetani
M
M
Garosi
L
L
Roviello
F
F
D000368:Aged; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; C083825:CA-72-4 antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen