title: Cutoff value of carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 elevation levels for monitoring recurrence in patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this longitudinal study was to try and improve the specificity of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 in monitoring tumor recurrence in patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma by setting suitable elevation levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-one patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma were considered. Serum samples were obtained preoperatively and every 3 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative CEA and CA19-9 positivity rates were 19.9% and 18.2%. The specificity and sensitivity of CEA elevation to monitor recurrence were 92.9% and 23.4% versus 76.5% and 78.9% in CEA-negative versus CEA-positive patients, respectively. For CA19-9 the specificity and sensitivity were 95.0% and 18.8% versus 60.0% and 83.3% in CA19-9-negative versus CA19-9-positive patients, respectively. When we set the elevation level of CEA at 5 ng/mL, the specificity of CEA elevation to monitor recurrence increased to 94.1% for CEA-positive patients. The specificity increased to 93.3% for CA19-9-positive patients when the CA19-9 elevation level was set at 100 U/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For CEA- or CA19-9-positive patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma we can increase the specificity of CEA and CA19-9 by setting the elevation level of CEA at 5 ng/mL and CA19-9 at 100 U/mL.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Miao-zhen
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Jun-zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Zhi-qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng-hua
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Hui-yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yu-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhi-wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: You-jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Rui-hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen