title: [Can tumor markers predict outcomes of portal vein branch embolization in patients with primary inoperable liver tumors?].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal vein embolization (PVE) is one of the options to increase the number of resecable cases in patients with primary inoperable liver tumors. However, insufficient growth of liver parenchyma or postoperative tumor progression remains problematic in PVE procedures. Generally, tumor markers are of significance in patient postoperative monitoring for the disease recurrence. The aim of this study is to assess the potential of tumor markers in predicting PVE outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group included 43 subjects with primary or secondary tumors, in whom serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), thymidine kinase (TK), tissue polypetide antigen (TPS) and MonoTotal levels were assessed 28 days following PVE. The liver parenchyma growth or tumor progression were assessed based on computer tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sufficient liver parenchyma hypertrophy was recorded in 27 (62.8 %) patients with subsequent liver resection. Insufficient post-PVE liver parenchyma growth was recorded in 5 (11.6 %) patients and tumor progression was recorded in 11 (25.6 %) subjects. The following tests were considered significant predictive tumor markers of PVE outcomes: serum levels of CEA, TPA, Mono Total prior to PVE, and serum levels of TK, TPA, Mono Total within 28 days following PVE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tumor markers may be significant in predicting PVE outcomes in patients with primary inoperable liver tumors. However, in order to make final conclusions on their clinical significance, larger patient group studies should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgická klinika FN a LF UK v Plzni. treska@fnplzen.cz
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Treska
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Topolcan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vrzalová
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Slauf
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liska
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skalický
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sutnar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fichtl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narsanská
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vachtová
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D013937:Thymidine Kinase