胰腺癌患者血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平变化及联合诊断的ROC曲线分析

目的:探讨胰腺癌患者血清癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原242(CA242)、糖类抗原199(CA199)水平变化,并分析上述指标对胰腺癌的联合诊断价值,为胰腺癌的临床诊断提供参考。方法:选择2014年2月至2018年2月我院收治的186例胰腺癌患者(胰腺癌组)、89例胰腺炎患者(胰腺炎组)作为研究对象,并取同期来我院检查的268例健康人作为对照组。比较三组受试者的血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平变化,对比分析血清CEA、CA242、CA199的单一以及联合诊断的准确度、特异度以及灵敏度,并绘制ROC曲线以分析上述指标的诊断价值。结果:三组受试者血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。且胰腺炎组和胰腺癌组的血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平明显高于对照组,胰腺癌组患者的血清CEA、CA242、CA199水平明显高于胰腺炎组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。ROC曲线结果显示,CEA诊断价值最大,CA199诊断价值最小。CEA是胰腺癌单项肿瘤标志物中敏感度最高的,为85.48%;特异度最高的为CA242(96.72%);三项肿瘤标志物联合诊断的准确度增加至92.27%,敏感度增加至95.16%,特异度相比略有下降。结论:与单一肿瘤标记物诊断胰腺癌相比,CEA、CA242、CA199联合诊断的敏感度和准确度均明显升高,可以明显改善胰腺癌的漏诊率,提高患者的生存率,具有较好的临床应用价值。     

Establishment and characterization of human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line SOJ producing carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9

A new tumor cell line derived from a human pancreatic exocrine adenocarcinoma was established in tissue culture and was transplantable in a nude mouse. In tissue culture, the neoplastic cells grew as epithelial-like, mucin-producing cells with a population doubling time of 50-70 hrs. Chromosomes ranged from 63 to 186 with a modal number of 77. Subcutaneous injection of 1 x 10(6) cultured neoplastic cells into nude mice resulted in tumor formation histologically closely resembling the original neoplasm. Ultrastructurally, the cell line showed characteristic ductal epithelium. Immunohistochemically, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and DU-PAN-2 antigen were demonstrated in the original tumor, the culture cells and the transplanted tumor. The cells secreted CEA (48.7 ng/1 x 10(5) cells/24 hrs) and CA19-9 (325 U/1 x 10(5) cells/24 hrs) in spent medium as well as sera of the nude mouse. This cell line has been passaged 30 times in vitro and maintained for more than one year. These characteristics will make the cell line SOJ a valuable tool in studying various aspects of biology of human pancreatic cancer.     

Tumor markers in pancreatic cancer: a comparative clinical study between CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 50

Seventy-eight patients were evaluated to ascertain the usefulness of markers CA 19-9 and CA 50 in diagnosing pancreatic cancer, using a less specific marker (CEA) as reference. Three groups were considered: a) 36 controls; b) 22 patients with benign obstructive jaundice; c) 20 patients with pancreatic cancer. Preoperative blood samples were obtained to ascertain CEA (E.I.A.), CA 19-9 (R.I.A.) and CA 50 (T.R.-F.I.A.). Serum concentrations of the various markers were significantly higher for patients with pancreatic cancer in comparison with the other groups, at cut-offs of 10 ng/ml (CEA), 100 ng/ml (CA 19-9) and 170 U/ml (CA 50). The sensitivity of CA 19-9 (94%) and CA 50 (88%) was much greater than that of CEA (30%). The specificity of the three markers in patients with pancreatic cancer, with respect to the control group, was 100% and this figure is reduced with respect to the group suffering from benign obstructive jaundice (CEA: 90%; CA 19-9: 88% and CA 50: 87%). Diagnostic results (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (P.P.V.) and negative predictive value (N.P.V.] did not significantly increase with respect to CA 19-9 and CA 50 when considered individually. It is concluded that the serum concentrations of CA 19-9 and CA 50 showed high sensitivity and specificity as markers of pancreatic cancer with respect to the other groups, pointing towards clinical routine clinical use of both markers. In addition, a comparative study of the literature has been made and prospects for short-term development and concrete applications for early and reliable diagnosis have been highlighted.     

The clinical relevance of tumor marker CEA, CA 19-9 in regional chemotherapy of hepatic metastases of colorectal carcinoma

Up to December 1986, 50 patients with documented hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma were treated with 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine (FUDR) using Infusaid pumps. The response of liver metastases to regional chemotherapy was studied by computerized tomography (CT) and carcino-embryonal antigen (CEA), and/or CA 19-9 antigen serum assays. Preoperative CEA values were pathological in 94% of the patients but only 48% had a pathological concentration of the antigen CA 19-9 of over 37 U/ml. The course of CEA and CA 19-9 in combination with the arterial angio-CT reflected the response of liver metastases to regional chemotherapy. A decrease or normalisation of CEA and CA 19-9 after the beginning of therapy is an indication of partial or complete remission of metastases (68% of the patients showed lowered CEA serum values). If the marker continues to rise in serum this is a danger signal of progression of liver metastases or of extrahepatic tumor spread if the tumor stage in the liver remains unchanged.     

AFP, CEA, CA 19-9 and TPA in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The present study is based on the assay of four markers (AFP, CEA, TPA, Ca 19-9) using IRMA methods in 36 normal subjects, 44 cirrhosis and 66 HCC patients. Parametric and non parametric tests were used to test differences and correlations. ROC curves and discriminant functions were also elaborated. Normal 95% "cut-off" was determined by the "boostrap" method yielding: CEA 3.4 ng/ml; Ca 19-9 55 U/ml; TPA 58U/l and AFP 5.2 ng/ml. In HCC patients the values of the four markers were, on average, significantly different from those of normal subjects. However, only AFP and TPA exhibited high diagnostic accuracy (90%) for detection of the tumor. Higher than normal mean values for all markers were, also observed in cirrhotic patients. Only AFP yielded effective discrimination between HCC and cirrhosis. The positive prediction for the presence of the tumor on cirrhotic ground was 95% for AFP values higher than 18.5 ng/ml, with a 78% negative predictive value with a 6 ng/ml threshold. Association of AFP with TPA showed only a marginal diagnostic improvement. Results were not improved at all by combining CEA and Ca 19-9 with AFP and/or TPA. In conclusion, AFP is and remains the best marker for HCC and the only one effective in discriminating of HCC from cirrhosis. TPA may be considered a valid alternative if cirrhosis is not present. CEA and Ca19-9 are of no use.     

CA 15.3 and CEA plasma level monitoring in patients with breast cancer

CA 15.3 and CEA were determined in the serum of 217 patients with early and advanced breast carcinoma. CA 15.3 was high (greater than 30 U/ml) in 1/6 (17%) patients with stage I-II primary tumor, in 4/77 (5%) patients without clinical signs of disease after mastectomy, in 67/102 (65%) patients with advanced disease in progression, and in 13/32 (41%) patients with advanced disease not in progression and undergoing therapy. The corresponding incidences of pathological CEA values (greater than 2.5 ng/ml) were 33, 8, 55 and 14%. The combination of the two markers brings about a certain improvement in the sensitivity for recognising patients with advanced disease in progression (79/102 = 77%). The presence of high values of CA 15.3 is statistically correlated to the prevalent site of metastases (bone and viscera greater than soft tissues). Monitoring the two markers during antitumor therapy in 36 patients showed good accordance (56%) between CA 15.3 changes and response to therapy. The decrease of the marker in patients who achieved partial remission was statistically significant. In conclusion, CA 15.3 is more sensitive than CEA in recognising patients with advanced disease in progression and gives better accordance with the response to therapy. The simultaneous use of the two markers may be useful in the follow-up of operated patients and in monitoring the disease during treatment.     

Elevated CEA and CA19-9 serum levels independently predict advanced pancreatic cancer at diagnosis

Abstract

Purpose: It is suggested that tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) could be used to predict the stage of pancreatic cancer. However, optimal cut-off values for CEA and CA19-9 are disputable. This study aimed to assess the value of CEA and CA19-9 serum levels at diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as predictors for the advanced stage of PDAC in patients discussed at pancreatic multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.

Methods: Patients with suspected PDAC discussed at MDT meetings from 2013 to 2017 were reviewed, in order to determine optimal cut-off values of both CEA and CA19-9.

Results: In total, 375 patients were included. Optimal cut-off values for predicting advanced PDAC were 7.0?ng/ml for CEA and 305.0?U/ml for CA19-9, resulting in positive predictive values of 83.3%, 73.6%, and 91.4% for CEA, CA19-9 and combined, respectively. Both tumour markers were independent predictors of advanced PDAC, demonstrated by an odds ratio of 4.21 (95% CI:1.85–9.56; p?=?0.001) for CEA and 2.58 for CA19-9 (95% CI:1.30–5.14; p?=?0.007).

Conclusions: CEA appears to be a more robust predictor of advanced PDAC than CA19-9. Implementing CEA and CA19-9 serum levels during MDT meetings as an additional tool for establishing tumour resectability is worthwhile for tailored diagnostics.     

Comparison of CA 15-3 and CEA in diagnosis and monitoring of breast cancer

In order to assess the utility of the tumor-associated antigen CA15-3 in the diagnosis of breast cancer, this new tumor marker was measured pre-operatively in 1342 patients. This group comprised 509 patients with malignant disease (134 with breast cancer and 375 with other malignancies not involving the breast) and 833 patients with benign surgical diseases (95 patients with fibroadenoma of the breast, 738 with other benign diseases). The results were compared with those for carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) in the diagnosis of breast cancer. CA15-3 was above the normal limits of 25 U/ml in 31% of the patients with breast cancer, in 22% of patients with other malignancies, and in 9% of patients with benign diseases. CEA was elevated in 26% of patients with breast cancer (greater than 3 ng/ml). CA15-3 levels were above 50 U/ml in 13% of the breast cancer patients, in 6% of patients with other malignancies, and in 0.2% of the patients with benign diseases. There was a good correlation between CA15-3 level and tumor stage in breast cancer. CA15-3 serum levels were over 50 U/ml in respectively 0%, 2%, 13%, and 73% of the patients with stages I, II, III, and IV. CA15-3 and CEA were also determined in 671 patients who had received initial curative surgery of breast cancer, and who regularly attended our follow-up clinic. CA15-3 was found to be more sensitive than CEA in detecting recurrences of breast cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

上皮性卵巢癌患者CT、MRI影像学特征及与血清标志物CEA、CA199、CA125水平的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨上皮性卵巢癌患者电子计算机断层扫描（CT）、磁共振成像（MRI）影像学特征及与血清标志物癌胚抗原（CEA）、糖类抗原199（CA199）、糖类抗原125（CA125）水平的相关性。方法：回顾性分析2014年4月-2020年2月于我院83例诊断为上皮性卵巢癌患者的CT、MRI影像学资料,以手术病理结果作为金标准。分析患者的CT、MRI影像学特征,检测患者血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平,评价患者CT、MRI影像学特征与血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平的相关性。结果：上皮性卵巢癌肿瘤横截面最大径为14.2mm-121.7mm,平均（18.6±4.3）mm,上皮性卵巢癌以混杂密度/信号为主,形态不规则,病灶多为囊实性,可见壁结节及分隔改变,增强后可见分隔或壁结节明显强化,可伴有腹水、腹膜转移、淋巴结转移。血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平分别为（66.35±7.52）ng/mL、（183.59±22.62）U/mL、（225.27±25.34）U/mL。上皮性卵巢癌边界清晰、不清晰的血清CA199、CA125水平组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;上皮性卵巢癌形态圆形/类圆形/椭圆形、分叶状、形态不规则的血清CA199、CA125水平组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;上皮性卵巢癌患者有壁结节、腹膜转移、淋巴结转移的血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;其余CT、MRI影像学表现特征组间血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。上皮性卵巢癌边界与血清CA125水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,上皮性卵巢癌形态与血清CA199、CA125水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,壁结节与血清CA125水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,腹膜转移、淋巴结转移与血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,其余指标之间无明显相关性（P＞0.05）。结论：上皮性卵巢癌CT、MRI影像表现具有特征性,血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平的检测有助于对早期上皮性卵巢癌的诊断以及不同病理类型的判断,CT、MRI影像学特征与血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平具有相关性,可判断疾病的进展及患者预后情况,对指导临床综合治疗及评估患者预后可提供客观依据。     

血清AFP,CEA,CA125单独或联合检测对原发性肝癌早期诊断的临床价值研究

目的:探讨血清中甲胎蛋白(AFP)、癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原125(CA125)单独以及联合检测对于原发性肝癌的早期诊断临床价值。方法:选择2012年1月~2016年6月在我院检验科确诊的120例原发性肝癌患者作为观察组,并以80例健康志愿者作为对照组,检测和比较两组的AFP、CEA和CA125水平,分析血清AFP、CEA、CA125单项及联合检测检出原发性肝癌的阳性率和约登指数。结果:观察组血清AFP(319.53±35.78 ng/mL)、CEA(81.4±27.8 ng/mL)、CA125(20.67±4.61 ng/mL)水平均明显高于健康对照组(P0.05)。血清AFP、CEA、CA125在单独检测时诊断原发性肝癌的敏感性分别为65%(78/120)、75%(90/120)和60%(72/120),而三者的联合检测能够使检测的敏感性达到92%(112/120),显著高于单独检测时的敏感度(P0.05)。血清AFP、CEA、CA125单项检测约登指数均显著低于联合检测(P0.05)。结论:相较于血清AFP、CEA、CA125的单独检测,三者联合检测可明显提高原发性肝癌的检出率。     

Significance of CA72.4 in patients with colorectal cancer. Comparison with CEA and CA19.9.

CA72.4 is a new tumor-associated antigen identified by monoclonal antibodies cc49 and B72.3. Serum levels of CA72.4 were measured in patients with benign and malignant diseases. The cut-off used was 4 U/mL. CA72.4 is a highly specific marker since only 3% of 162 patients with benign diseases had elevated levels of antigen. Forty-four percent of 89 patients with colorectal cancer had elevated CA72.4 levels. Compared with CEA and CA19.9, we have found that CEA (75%) is the most sensitive marker (p less than 0.001). The simultaneous use of two or three markers did not further contribute to the evaluation of patients with colorectal cancer.     

肿瘤标志物CEA、CA199对结直肠癌TNM分期的预判价值

目的:探讨肿瘤标志物CEA、CA199浓度变化在结直肠癌TNM分期中的预判价值。方法:回顾我院2010年1月~2013年10月收治的经手术治疗的结、直肠癌患者(共96例)的有关资料,分析其术前CEA、CA199浓度水平与术后病理确定TNM分期结果的相互关系,进行相应的统计学检测。结果:结直肠癌Ⅰ~Ⅳ期CEA浓度依次为4.28±1.78、6.92±2.01、23.99±6.49和362.64±158.80 ng/mL,CA199浓度依次为12.58±2.98、13.37±2.62、36.84±10.33和238.71±103.69 U/mL,肿瘤标志物CEA、CA199的浓度随TNM分期升级而增高,通过Kruskal-Wallis秩检验分析及Spearman秩相关分析,表明CEA、CA199的血清浓度与TNM分期明显相关(P0.01)。结论:CEA、CA199血清浓度与TNM分期呈正相关,而年龄与CEA、CA199在各期中的浓度无明显相关性。因此,应用CEA、CA199的血清学测定在一定程度上具有预判结直肠癌TNM分期的价值。     

CEA、CA19-9与CA72-4用于诊断老年胃癌的临床价值研究

目的:探讨CEA、CA19-9以及CA72-4诊断老年胃癌的临床价值。方法:对192例经活检确诊为老年胃癌患者的血清CEA、CA19-9以及CA72-4水平进行分析,比较不同TNM分期老年胃癌患者的血清CEA、CA19-9以及CA72-4阳性率,并评价血清CEA、CA19-9以及CA72-4水平诊断老年胃癌的敏感性和特异性。结果:TNM 3期及4期的胃癌患者CEA以及CA19-9阳性率明显高于1期及2期胃癌患者,而TNM1-4期的胃癌患者CA72-4的阳性率都明显高于CEA以及CA19-9。以6.5 ng/m L、30U/m L以及4 ng/m L分别作为CEA、CA19-9以及CA72-4的上限临界值,其诊断老年患者的胃癌的敏感性分别为15.6%、19.3%以及29.2%,特异性分别为98.9%、97.2%以及98.0%,曲线下面积分别为0.59、0.62以及0.66。结论:CEA、CA19-9以及CA72-4对于诊断老年胃癌都有较好的特异性,但敏感性一般,尤其对于早期胃癌,CEA及CA19-9敏感性较差,CA72-4敏感性要优于二者。     

A novel multi-array immunoassay device for tumor markers based on insert-plug model of piezoelectric immunosensor

A novel multi-array immunoassay device based on the insert-plug model of piezoelectric (Pz) immunosensor fabricated with the screw clamp apparatus has been developed for quantitative detection of tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and carcinoma antigen 125 (CA125) in serum, in which single immunosensor can oscillate independently with the frequency stability of +/-1 Hz (hertz) in air phase and +/-2 Hz in liquid phase. These response characteristics of Pz tumor marker multi-array immunoassay device such as time-cost, reproducibility and specificity, etc. were also investigated, respectively. The detection range for AFP, CEA, PSA and CA125 obtained by multi-array Pz immunosensor were 20-640 ng/ml, 1.5-30 microg/ml, 1.5-40 ng/ml and 5-150 IU/ml, respectively, with the coefficient of variance (CV) less than 5% and no cross-reactivates with other tumor markers in serum were observed. Application of the multi-array immunosensor to clinical samples demonstrated that results were in good agreement with chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). Moreover, the multi-array Pz immunosensor could be regenerated to be reused for three cycles without appreciable loss of response activity. Therefore, the proposed multi-array immunoassay device based on Pz immunosensor provides a rapid, sensitive, specific, reusable, convenient and reliable alternative for the detection of tumor markers in clinical laboratory.     

The tumour marker CA 195 in colorectal and pancreatic cancer.

The aim of this study was to measure the serum level of the tumour markers CA 195 and CEA in patients with either colorectal or pancreatic cancer both before and at serial intervals after operation. CA 195 and CEA were measured in 199 patients with colorectal cancer and 52 patients with pancreatic cancer. The median concentrations of CA 195 were 3.0 u/ml (interquartile range 3.0-4.5 u/ml) in patients with a Dukes' stage A lesion, 5.8 u/ml (3.0-18.2 u/ml) in patients with a Dukes' stage B lesion, 6.1 u/ml (3.0-24.7 u/ml) in patients with a Dukes' stage C and 23.8 u/ml (11.1-409.0 u/ml) in patients with metastatic disease (normal range 0-7 u/ml). The median levels of CEA were 2.6 ng/ml (1.7-3.3 ng/ml) for Dukes' stage A, 3.3 ng/ml (1.7-7.2 ng/ml) for Dukes' stage B, 3.7 ng/ml (2.2-7.9 ng/ml) for Dukes' stage C and 34.5 ng/ml (13.3-289.4 ng/ml) for metastatic disease. A rising level of CA 195 or CEA after operation suggested recurrence of the tumour. In none of these patients was the recurrence operable. In patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the level of CA 195 was significantly higher in patients with metastatic disease but it did not discriminate between resectable and unresectable disease. The duration of survival correlated with the initial level of CA 195 (Rs = -0.66, p less than 0.001).     

Tumor markers, liver function tests and symptoms in 115 patients with isolated colorectal liver metastases

Development of the hybridoma technique has made the identification of several new tumor antigens possible. Although it was hoped that they would be more tumor-specific, none of these markers are found exclusively in tumor or in serum of tumor patients. Compared with carcinoembryionic antigen (CEA) and liver function tests, the roles of these markers (CA 19-9, CA 125, CA 15-3) were prospectively evaluated in 115 patients with colorectal liver metastases. Patients were classified according to tumor volume (T1 less than 25%, T2 25-75%, T3 greater than 75%), and the extension of infiltration (solitary/multiple/diffuse; unilateral, bilateral). Patients with benign liver or biliary disease served as a control group (n = 63). Overall sensitivity was 87% for *1, 50% for *2 and 38% for *3, with a significant correlation with tumor size. CEA serum levels were elevated in 88% of all patients. CA 19-9 was less sensitive: positive in 59%. Because of some complementary elevations, the combined use of CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 125 raised sensitivity to 94%. CA 19-9 and LDH could be useful for confirmation because of their higher specificity; however, the specificity of CEA rose to 93% on using a cut-off of 10 ng/ml instead of 3 ng/ml. The results indicate that CEA and CA 19-9 as well as liver function tests are helpful for preoperative staging in conjunction with imaging procedures before liver resection or regional chemotherapy.     

Circulating CA 15.3 levels in breast cancer. Our present experience

CA 15.3 is an antigen expressed by human breast carcinoma cells, and defined by two monoclonal antibodies, 115D8 and DF3. We used IRMA to determine the circulating serum levels of CA 15.3 in 1178 subjects with breast cancer, non-breast malignancies, benign diseases and controls. A threshold level of 40 U/ml was established with 140 healthy controls and 650 patients with benign diseases (respectively 0% subjects and 1.5% patients had abnormal antigen levels). Elevated CA 15.3 was found in 12 of 184 patients with malignancies different from breast cancer (6.5%), either epithelial carcinomas with distant metastases, mainly in the liver, or primary liver tumors. Breast cancer patients (n = 204) were analysed by prior therapy, UICC stage and WHO response to therapy. Eight of 134 (5.9%) patients with stage II or III breast cancer at presentation and no evidence of disease (NED) had elevated CA 15.3. All of 22 patients with stage IV breast cancer not responding to therapy (SD and PD) had antigen levels greater than 40 U/ml, as did 10 of 34 (29.4%) stage IV patients in objective response (CR + PR). Three of 14 pretreatment patients had abnormal marker levels, and they later proved to have distant metastases. Serum CA 15.3 values were statistically different (p less than 0.01) in NED (20.6 +/- 11.2 U/ml), CR + PR (33.5 +/- 24.0 U/ml), stable disease (98.8 +/- 50.4 U/ml) and progressive disease (greater than 200 U/ml) breast cancer patients. Our results suggest that circulating CA 15.3 antigen levels agree with the stage of breast cancer and with the response to therapy.     

Preoperative carbohydrate antigen 195 (CA195) and CEA serum levels as prognostic factors in patients with colorectal cancer

We evaluated in 214 patients with primary colorectal cancer the prognostic value of the preoperative serum levels of CEA and CA195. For CEA these levels were above the cutoff of 6 ng/ml in 31.3% of patients, whereas for CA195 they were higher than 12 U/ml in 35.9% of patients. The simultaneous use of both antigens increased the sensitivity to 49%, which was significantly higher than that of CEA (p < 0.001) and CA195 (p < 0.01) taken singly. The mean preoperative CEA levels were significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with Dukes' stage only, while there was a significant correlation between preoperative serum levels of CA195 and Dukes' stage (p < 0.001), grade of differentiation (p < 0.01) and tumor location (p < 0.05). The results indicated that high preoperative serum levels of CEA and CA195 were associated with a shorter overall survival (p < 0.0001). In addition, separate Cox multivariate analysis showed that preoperative CA195 was, after Dukes' stage, the strongest factor to predict overall survival (p < 0.0001).     

Increased ferritin levels in the fluid of thyroid cyst

High ferritin levels in the aspirate of thyroid cyst (Six yellow clear, 4 yellow turbid and 10 chocolate colored turbid) without apparent sings of malignancy were found. The mean concentration in the 3,000 X g supernatant of the fluid was 40,116 ng/ml, and the 3,000 X g precipitate was 11,147 ng/ml. All cases showed normal levels of serum ferritin. Con A binding with ferritin was distributed from low to high. These ferritins showed a molecular weight of approximately 450,000 which was the same as found in human spleen and liver. The continuous increase in ferritin levels in thyroid cyst fluid was found by a chronological study in some cases. When tumor markers such as CEA, NCA, CA 19-9 and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AG, acute phase reactant) were examined simultaneously, an increase in some of the cyst fluid was observed. However, the incidence and the rate of increase of these tumor markers and acute phase reactant were low compared to ferritin. Neither a correlation between ferritin and CEA, nor between ferritin and CA 19-9 was found. The increase in ferritin in thyroid cyst fluids may be due to the increased synthesis, release and storage by the inflammatory cells.     

Assessment of the value of preoperative serum levels of CA 242 and CEA in the staging and postoperative survival of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients

INTRODUCTION: CEA is the most frequently used tumor marker in colorectal cancer. There may be an improvement in its efficacy when used in association with CA 242. AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative serum levels of the tumor markers CA 242 and CEA in the staging and postoperative follow-up of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of a series of 134 patients with colorectal adenocarcinomas 90 underwent radical surgery and 44 palliative surgery. The control group consisted of 22 organ donors. The cutoff serum levels utilized were 5 ng/mL for CEA and 20 U/mL for CA 242. The mortality during follow-up was recorded in order to determine the duration of survival. The data were submitted to statistical analysis using diagnostic tests, the chi-square test, survival analysis (Kaplan and Meier) and ROC curves. A significance level of p < or = 0.05 was applied. RESULTS: The sensitivity of CEA in Dukes' stages A, B, C and D was 27.8%, 32.4%, 32.1% and 66.7%, respectively. The sensitivity of CA 242 was 11.1%, 16.2%, 30.8% and 50%. When both markers were combined, the sensitivity was 33.3%, 48.6%, 40.7% and 72.5%. In the group of patients who underwent radical surgery the mean survival was 60.47 months for those with high preoperative CEA levels, 52.22 months for those with high preoperative CA 242 levels, and 44.80 months for those with elevated levels of both markers. There was a statistically significant difference in survival between patients undergoing radical surgery with elevated CA 242 levels, especially when CEA was also elevated, and patients without elevated CA 242. CONCLUSION: Preoperative serum levels of CA 242 showed less efficacy than CEA levels for the staging of colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. Elevated preoperative serum levels of CA 242 alone were related to poor survival, especially in association with high levels of CEA.