title: Markers of bile duct tumors.
abstract: Biliary tract carcinomas are relatively rare, representing less than 1% of cancers. However, their incidence has increased in Japan and in industrialized countries like the USA. Biliary tract tumors have a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate because they are usually detected late in the course of the disease; therapeutic treatment options are often limited and of minimal utility. Recent studies have shown the importance of serum and molecular markers in the diagnosis and follow up of biliary tract tumors. This review aims to introduce the main features of the most important serum and molecular markers of biliary tree tumors. Some considerable tumor markers are cancer antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, chromogranin A, mucin 1, mucin 5, alpha-fetoprotein, claudins and cytokeratins.
authors.affiliation: Giulia Malaguarnera, Clorinda Mazzarino, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Catania, via Androne 83, 95124 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malaguarnera
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Paladina
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rando
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uccello
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carnazzo
authors.forename: Innocenza
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alessandria
authors.forename: Clorinda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzarino