[Diagnostic and prognostic values of serum CA125, NSE, CT levels in patients with lung cancer].
BACKGROUND
To explore the clinical and prognostic values of serum carbohydrate antigen (CA125), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), calcitonin (CT) levels in patients with lung cancer before operation.


METHODS
Ninety two untreated patients with lung cancer confirmed histologically were studied. Serum CA125, NSE, and CT were detected in 92 lung cancer patients by ELISA before operation. Thirty healthy volunteers were chosen as controls.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of CA125, NSE, and CT for the diagnosis of lung cancer were 48.9%, 21.7%, and 7.6% respectively. The level of CA125 in lung cancer patients was significantly higher than that of control (P < 0.05). The level of NSE in patients with small cell lung cancer was significantly higher than that of control (P < 0.01). The level of CT in lung cancer patients was higher than that of control, but without significant difference. The 3-year survival rate of patients with increased serum CA125 level before operation was 44.4% (20/45), whereas that of patients with normal CA125 level was 66.0% (31/47) (P < 0.05). The 3-year survival rate of patients with increased serum NSE and CT levels was 45.0% (9/20) and 42.8% (3/7) respectively, whereas that of patients with normal serum NSE and CT level was 58.3% (42/72) and 56.5% (48/85) respectively. The 3-year survival rate of patients with increased serum NSE or CT level had no significant difference with that of patients with normal level (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnostic values of CA125, NSE and CT are limited. CA125 can be used as an prognostic parameter in patients with lung cancer after operation.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongulia Medical College, Huhhot, Inner Mongulia 010059, P.R.China.
Zhanlin
Z
Guo
Lin
L
Qiu
Fengkun
F
Zhang
Fude
F
Yang
Long
L
Zhao
Yulong
Y
Zhang
Xianming
X
Zhu
Nengyong
N
Qiu