Cutoff value of carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 elevation levels for monitoring recurrence in patients with resectable gastric adenocarcinoma.
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.
Qiu
Miao-zhen
MZ
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Lin
Jun-zhong
JZ
Wang
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Wang
Feng-hua
FH
Pan
Zhi-zhong
ZZ
Luo
Hui-yan
HY
Li
Yu-hong
YH
Zhou
Zhi-wei
ZW
He
You-jian
YJ
Xu
Rui-hua
RH
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*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen