title: Role of serum tumor markers in monitoring for recurrence of gastric cancer following radical gastrectomy.
abstract: It has been suggested that the serum tumor markers AFP, CEA, and CA19-9 may serve as prognostic factors or indicators for recurrence after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. We compared the value of these markers in a group with (n=52) and a group without recurrent gastric cancer (n=52) according to the site of recurrence. Serum levels of tumor markers were measured at the time of preoperative diagnosis and at follow-up. At least one tumor marker was positive preoperatively in 20 with recurrence vs. 7 controls (p=0.007). The peritoneum was the most common recurrent site. The positive predictive value of AFP was high at the time of diagnosis and CA19-9 positivity was high at the time of recurrence. Positive CEA suggested recurrence to the liver. In summary, an elevated tumor marker at diagnosis or during follow up may identify patients at higher risk for a recurrence. CA19-9 may be especially useful as a marker for peritoneal recurrence of the gastric cancer, and CEA for recurrence to liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 3-1, Dongdaesin-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, 602-715, Korea. sychoi@dau.ac.kr
authors.forename: Seok Reyol
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jin Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jong Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung Hwan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Min Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Sup
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Waqar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qureshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen