Elevated levels of CA 19-9 and CEA in pancreatic cancer-associated diabetes.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between diabetes and pancreatic cancer has been established by more than several decades of research. However, serum levels of CEA and CA 19-9 in diabetic pancreatic cancer has not been shown.


METHODS
Preoperative serum levels of CEA and CA 19-9 and clinicopathological characteristics were retrospectively analyzed in 79 with or 229 without diabetes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) patients.


RESULTS
Of the 308 PDA patients enrolled, 79 (25.6%) patients had diabetes. The percentage of new-onset diabetes (i.e. <24 months in duration) was 57% (45/79) in PDA patients coupled with diabetes. Among diabetic PDA patients, mean total bilirubin and fasting blood glucose significantly increased in comparison with control groups (8.54 ± 14.88 vs. 4.16 ± 6.12; 170.22 ± 106.96 vs. 95.84 ± 15.76; P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in mean levels of serum CA 19-9 and CEA levels between two groups. However, when the value of CEA and CA 19-9 was analyzed as a dichotomous variable, elevated CEA (≥5 ng/ml) and CA 19-9 (≥500 U/ml) levels were strongly correlated with the presence of diabetes in PDA patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Elevated CEA (≥5 ng/ml) and CA19-9 (≥500 U/ml) levels have an association with diabetic pancreatic cancer. New-onset diabetes combined with higher CA 19-9 and/or CEA might be regarded as a useful tool to screen early pancreatic cancer.
Guo
Qingqu
Q
Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Cancer Institute, Zhejiang University, 88# Jiefang Road, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China.
Kang
Muxing
M
Zhang
Bo
B
Chen
Ying
Y
Dong
Xin
X
Wu
Yulian
Y
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D001786:Blood Glucose; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006454:Hemoglobins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin