Chemotherapy-induced transient CEA and CA19-9 surges in patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
Rising serum tumor markers after chemotherapy are generally considered to indicate tumor progression. However, we have observed a transient increase in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels despite clinical benefits from chemotherapy in patients with metastatic or recurrent gastric cancer (MRGC). Therefore, this study was performed to determine the incidence of CEA and CA19-9 surges and their implications on the clinical outcome in MRGC patients.


METHODS
Fifty-one and 40 patients who had evaluable data for CEA or CA19-9 surges, respectively, were included. Both CEA and CA 19-9 surges were defined as a > 20% increase in these tumor markers from the baseline that was followed by a > 20% drop in subsequent levels compared to the baseline.


RESULTS
Of 51 evaluable patients for CEA surges, nine patients (18%) had documented CEA surges. The median time to CEA peak and the duration of the CEA surge were 2.8 (1.7 approximately 7.0) and 9.1 weeks (7.6 approximately 21.0), respectively. Of 40 evaluable patients for CA19-9 surges, seven patients (18%) had CA19-9 surges. The median time to peak and the duration of the CA19-9 surge were 2.3 (1.9 approximately 6.0) and 7.1 weeks (4.3 approximately 16.1), respectively. All patients with CEA or CA19-9 surges had radiographic evidence of benefits from chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
CEA or CA19-9 surges can be observed in MRGC patients receiving chemotherapy. All patients with these surge phenomena had clinical benefits from chemotherapy. An initial rise in CEA or CA19-9 levels after initiation of chemotherapy should not be used as an indicator of progressive disease.
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hye Jin
HJ
Kim
Keun-wook
KW
Lee
Yu Jung
YJ
Kim
Do-youn
DY
Oh
Jee Hyun
JH
Kim
Seock-ah
SA
Im
Jong Seok
JS
Lee
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen