[Tumoral markers and acute-phase reactants in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer].
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.
Irigoyen Oyarzabal
A M
AM
Servicio de Gastroenterología. Hospital de Cruces. Baracaldo. Vizcaya. Spain. airigoyen@hcru.osakidetza.net
Amiguet García
J A
JA
López Vivanco
G
G
Genollá Subirats
J
J
Muñoz Villafranca
M C
MC
Ojembarrena Martínez
E
E
Liso Irurzun
P
P
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
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor