Serum tumor markers not useful in screening patients with pancreatic mucinous cystic lesions associated with malignant changes.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Serum cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) provides additional information about mucinous cystic pancreatic neoplasm (MPN). This study was undertaken to assess both CA19-9 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) serum concentrations in consecutive patients affected by MPNs and other chronic benign and malignant pancreatic diseases. We also evaluated whether serum CA19-9 and CEA determinations provide additional information such as the presence of invasive carcinoma in MPN patients.

METHODS:

Serum CA19-9 and CEA from 91 patients with pancreatic diseases were tested by commercially available kits at the time of diagnosis. The upper reference limit of serum CA19-9 was 37 U/mL and that of serum CEA was 3 ng/mL.

RESULTS:

Thirty-five patients was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (CP), 32 with MPN, and 24 with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) confirmed histologically. Surgery was carried out in 5 CP patients, in 10 MPN patients (7 of them had severe dysplasia), and in 9 PDAC patients. Serum CA19-9 activity was high in 12 (34.3%) CP patients, in 7 (21.9%) MPN patients, and in 12 (50.0%) PDAC patients (P=0.089). High serum CEA concentrations were noted in 6 (17.1%) CP patients, in 6 (18.8%) MPN patients, and in 12 (50.0%) PDAC patients (P=0.010). In the 7 MPN patients associated with histologically confirmed severe dysplasia, 3 (42.9%) patients had elevated serum activity of serum CA19-9, and 2 (28.6%) patients had high levels of CEA.

CONCLUSION:

Serum determination of oncological markers is not useful in selecting MPN patients with malignant changes.

• Authors: Raffaele Pezzilli, Lucia Calculli, Gianvico Melzi d'Eril, Alessandra Barassi
• Journal: Hepatobiliary & pancreatic diseases international : HBPD INT (Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int) Vol. 15 Issue 5 Pg. 553-557 (Oct 2016) ISSN: 1499-3872 [Print] Singapore
• PMID: 27733327 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CA-19-9 Antigen
• Carcinoembryonic Antigen
• Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• CA-19-9 Antigen (blood)
• Carcinoembryonic Antigen (blood)
• Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal (blood, pathology, surgery)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms, Cystic, Mucinous, and Serous (blood, pathology, surgery)
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (blood, pathology, surgery)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Prognosis
• Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
• Reproducibility of Results
• Up-Regulation