Increased cancer antigen 27.29 (CA27.29) level in patients with mycosis fungoides.
BACKGROUND
Mycosis fungoides, also called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, comprise a group of extranodal, indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of T-cell origin with primary involvement of the skin. There are few data available on tumor markers in these patients. Cancer antigen 27.29 (CA27.29), which is expressed on most carcinoma cells, is a soluble form of the glycoprotein MUC1. Measuring CA27.29 has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for monitoring disease activity in patients with breast cancer.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess whether CA27.29 levels were increased in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and whether there was a correlation of this marker with tumor response.


METHODS
We evaluated the CA27.29 blood levels from 6 patients with advanced mycosis fungoides (who had no evidence of breast cancer) and reviewed their charts for information about history and physical examinations, laboratory data, pathology findings, and radiologic examinations.


RESULTS
We demonstrated that 3 of 6 patients with advanced mycosis fungoides had markedly elevated CA27.29 blood levels. In the two patients who had serial blood levels drawn, CA27.29 increased or decreased during treatment as the disease progressed or responded, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study reflects pilot data on a limited number of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our observations suggest that CA27.29 merits further investigation as a tumor marker in patients who have cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.
Cen
Putao
P
Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics (Phase I Program), Division of Cancer Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Duvic
Madeleine
M
Cohen
Philip R
PR
Kurzrock
Razelle
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012074:Remission Induction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C090797:CA 27-29 antigen