A Comparison of CA242 With Twelve Other Tumor Antigens for the Serodiagnosis of Pancreatic, Gastric, and Other Gastrointestinal Cancers

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-1-2013

Department

Medical Technology

School

Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences

Abstract

The objective of this study was the comparison of CA 242 with twelve other cancer antigens for its usefulness in the diagnosis of pancreatic, gastric, and other gastrointestinal cancers. Sera from 554 patients (16 pancreatic cancer, 12 gastric cancer, 116 other gastrointestinal cancer, 215 other cancer, and 195 non-cancer) seen in a local hospital were assayed for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, CA 195, CA 50, CA 242, CA 72-4, ferritin, CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 27.29, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), Cyfra 21-1, and neuron specific enolase (NSE). Diagnostic sensitivities for pancreatic and gastric cancers respectively were: CEA (37.5%, 50.0%), CA 19-9 (66.7%, 63.6%) , CA 195 (100%, 58.3%), CA 50 (66.7%, 70.0%), CA 242 (66.7%, 70.0%), CA 72-4 (31.3%, 27.3%), ferritin (50.0%, 11.1% ), CA 125 (40.0%, 40.0%), CA 15-3 (26.7%, 45.5%), CA 27.29 (40.0%, 30.0%), AFP (18.2%, 22.2%), Cyfra 21-1 (26.7%, 9.1%), and NSE (0.0%, 0.0)%). Diagnostic specificities and efficiencies were above 74% for all antigens and both cancers. Especially noteworthy was the fact that 9/16 pancreatic cancer and 6/12 gastric cancer patients had a CA 195 concentration which was greater than 20x the upper limit of normal (ULN). Two of the pancreatic cancer patients had CA 195 concentrations above 1000x ULN prior to their diagnosis by conventional methods (imaging and biopsy). CA 242 and CA 50 were superior to the other markers for the detection of gastric cancer. CA 195 proved the best with CA 19-9, CA 50, and CA 242 also proving excellent for the detection of pancreatic cancer.

Publication Title

The Chemist

Volume

86

Issue

2

First Page

1

Last Page

16

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS