title: Diagnostic values of serum levels of pepsinogens and gastrin-17 for screening gastritis and gastric cancer in a high risk area in northern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastric cancer (GC) is the second cause of cancer related death in the world. It may develop by progression from its precancerous condition, called gastric atrophy (GA) due to gastritis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of serum levels of pepsinogens (Pg) and gastrin-17 (G17) as non-invasive methods to discriminate GA or GC (GA/GC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects referred to gastrointestinal clinics of Golestan province of Iran during 2010 and 2011 were invited to participate. Serum levels of PgI, PgII and G17 were measured using a GastroPanel kit. Based on the pathological examination of endoscopic biopsy samples, subjects were classified into four groups: normal, non-atrophic gastritis, GA, and GC. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to determine cut-off values. Indices of validity were calculated for serum markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study groups were normal individuals (n=74), non-atrophic gastritis (n=90), GA (n=31) and GC patients (n=30). The best cut-off points for PgI, PgI/II ratio, G17 and HP were 80 μg/L, 10, 6 pmol/L, and 20 EIU, respectively. PgI could differentiate GA/GC with high accuracy (AUC=0.83; 95%CI: 0.76-0.89). The accuracy of a combination of PgI and PgI/II ratio for detecting GA/GC was also relatively high (AUC=0.78; 95%CI: 0.70-0.86).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggested PgI alone as well as a combination of PgI and PgI/II ratio are valid markers to differentiate GA/GC. Therefore, Pgs may be considered in conducting GC screening programs in high-risk areas.
authors.affiliation: Golestan Research Center of Gastroentrology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran E-mail : grcgh@goums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nejadi-Kelarijani
authors.forename: Gholamreza
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roshandel
authors.forename: Shahryar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Semnani
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmadi
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faghani
authors.forename: Sima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Besharat
authors.forename: Atefeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akhavan-Tabib
authors.forename: Taghi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amiriani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D005756:Gastritis / Q000097:blood; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000097:blood*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020116:Pepsinogen A / Q000097:blood*; D020115:Pepsinogen C / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D005755:Gastrins; C013550:gastrin 17; D020115:Pepsinogen C; D020116:Pepsinogen A