title: Tumor markers as useful predictors of survival rate after exploratory laparotomy for liver malignancies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumor markers are used for the prediction of relapse and in determining the effect of postoperative or post-oncological therapy as a standard component of follow-up. Metastatic processes of the liver and primary malignancies of the liver and gall bladder are very common in the European population. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the behaviour of malignancy in patients who have not undergone surgical therapy and to study serum levels of the monitored tumor markers in relation to the life expectancy of these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Log-rank test and Wilcoxon test were used for statistical evaluation. Survival was computed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Serum levels of the tumor markers conventionally used in clinical practice in patients with gastrointestinal tumors (CEA, CA19-9, C724) and the markers of the proliferation activity in malignancy (TK, TPA, TPS) were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and nine patients who underwent exploratory laparotomy without any surgical therapy between September 1999 and June 2005 were studied. For patients with a serum level of CEA, CA19-9 and CA72-4 that was higher than the calculated cut-off hazard ratios of early death were respectively 3-, 5- and 9-fold higher than for patients with serum levels of the same tumor markers below the calculated cut-off. Preoperative serum levels of proliferative tumor markers (TK, TPA and TPS) were not statistically significant for the prediction of early death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the pilot study suggest the importance of tumor markers for the prediction of the short-term survival rate. These markers could be used to supplement classic clinical, laboratory and radiodiagnostic parameters. It would be very helpful for the planning of palliative oncological therapy for patients with liver malignancies who cannot be treated by surgical therapy.
authors.affiliation: DepartmentS of Surgery, University Hospital in Pilsen, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liska
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holubec
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Treska
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skalicky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sutnar
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Topolcan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kormunda
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finek
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007813:Laparotomy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D010455:Peptides; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen; C089984:tissue polypeptide specific antigen; D013937:Thymidine Kinase