title: Evaluation of tumor markers biochip C12 system in the diagnosis of gastric cancer and the strategies for improvement: analysis of 100 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A C12 biochip system using 12 tumor markers has been developed in China for serum diagnosis of common cancers. This work is to evaluate this C12 system in the diagnosis of gastric cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera from 100 gastric carcinoma patients were screened for 12 tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carbohydrate antigen 242, cancer antigen 15-3, cancer antigen 125, prostate specific antigen, free-PSA, neuron-specific enolase, human chorionic gonagotropin-beta, human growth hormone, and ferritin, using the C12 biochip system. The most relevant tumor marker and the contribution of the tumor markers to the improvement of diagnosis were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall diagnostic rate of C12 biochip system was 37%, and 7.8%, 29.4%, 35.5% and 50%, respectively, for stages I, II, III and IV patients. The differences in diagnostic rates between stage I (7.8%) and stage IV (50%) reached statistical significance (chi-square test, Chi2=7.20, p<0.01). Among all the 12 markers, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 had the highest positive rate up to 23%, against which any form of combinations of 5 most relevant tumor markers (2, 3, 4 or 5 markers combined) could not significantly improve the diagnostic rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The C12 biochip system has some value in the diagnosis of advanced stage gastric cancer, but less sensitive in early gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital & Cancer Center of Wuhah University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Chuang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-Qin
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Liang-Dong
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guo-Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D040081:Protein Array Analysis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor