Serum estimation of carcinoembryonic antigen, beta(2)-microglobulin and calcitonin as tumor markers in primary lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to estimate the diagnostic significance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)-MG), and calcitonin (CAL) as tumor markers in patients with lung cancer.


METHODS
Sixty patients were included and CEA, beta(2)-MG, and CAL serum levels were measured before treatment, and one and 6 months after treatment.


RESULTS
The results taken showed that CEA mean baseline level was 23.4 ng/ml (normal range 0-5 ng/ml and up to 8 ng/ml in smokers), elevated in 80% of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cases, in 93% of adenocarcinomas, in 84% of squamous-cell carcinomas, and in 84% of large-cell carcinomas. The mean beta(2)-MG level was 3.6 mg/l (normal range 0.7-3.4 mg/l), elevated in 70% of SCLC, in 40% of adenocarcinomas, in 66% of large-cell and in 50% of squamouscell carcinomas. The mean CAL level was 170 pg/ml (normal < 26 pg/ml), elevated in 60% of SCLC, in 33% of adenocarcinomas, in 16% of large-cell and in 16% of squamouscell carcinomas.


CONCLUSIONS
CEA, beta(2)-MG, and CAL can be used as tumor markers with diagnostic value in primary lung cancer.
Charalabopoulos
K
K
Department of Physiology, Clinical Unit, Ioannina University, Medical School, Ioannina, Greece.
Papalimneou
V
V
Charalabopoulos
A
A
Zoganas
L
L
Andronadi
V
V
Stefanou
D
D
Agnantis
N J
NJ