title: [Tumoral markers and acute-phase reactants in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the diagnostic accuracy of the following parameters in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), carbohydrate antigen 50 (CA 50), alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), alpha-2 macroglobulin (AMG), and ceruloplasmin (CP). PATIENTS AND MENTOD: We prospectively studied 58 patients with pancreatic cancer, 40 with alcoholic pancreatitis and 40 healthy controls, in whom the above-mentioned parameters were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC curves) were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The specificity of TPA, CA 19-9 and CA 50 in the differential diagnosis between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis was 87.5%, 90% and 95% respectively, with a sensitivity of nearly 90%. Although levels of AAT, AMG and CP were higher in patients with cancer than in those with pancreatitis, their specificity was lower, approximately 65%. CEA and TPA showed a positive association with the presence of metastases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TPA, CA 19-9 and CA 50 were useful in the differential diagnosis between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Gastroenterología. Hospital de Cruces. Baracaldo. Vizcaya. Spain. airigoyen@hcru.osakidetza.net
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Irigoyen Oyarzabal
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Amiguet García
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López Vivanco
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Genollá Subirats
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Muñoz Villafranca
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ojembarrena Martínez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liso Irurzun
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor