Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) in patients with pancreatic cancer.
BACKGROUND
Pancreatitis-associated protein (PAP) is known as a marker for pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate PAP in patients with pancreatic cancer, to assess its correlation to the extent of the disease and to compare it to CA19-9.


METHODS
This prospective study comprised 75 individuals. Thirty had pancreatic cancer, 30 were healthy controls and 15 had benign lesions of the pancreas. PAP was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was by Wilcoxon test and Spearman correlation coefficients.


RESULTS
As compared to healthy individuals and using a cut-off of 18 micrograms/l corresponding to a sensitivity of 90%, the specificity of PAP for pancreatic cancer was 82.8%. PAP elevation in cancer patients could not be explained by concomitant pancreatitis (p = 0.649). PAP did not show correlation to tumour size (p = 0.14), T-stages (p = 0.706) or tumour grading (p = 0.105), but was significantly correlated to the overall extent of the disease according to the UICC stages (p = 0.002). No correlation between PAP and CA19-9 was seen. Jaundice was not found to influence PAP values (p = 0.4).


CONCLUSIONS
Elevation of PAP in patients with pancreatic cancer is not merely explainable by concomitant pancreatitis, but seems to be due to increased PAP production by the cancer cells and is also correlated to tumour load as expressed by the UICC stages.
Cerwenka
H
H
Department of Visceral Surgery, Karl-Franzens University School of Medicine, Auenbruggerplatz 29, A-8036 Graz, Austria. cerwenka@kfunigraz.ac.at
Aigner
R
R
Bacher
H
H
Werkgartner
G
G
el-Shabrawi
A
A
Quehenberger
F
F
Mischinger
H J
HJ
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000097:blood; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; C000612141:REG3A protein, human