Combined detection of serum CEA, CA199, TGFα and TGFβ1for diagnosis of gastric cancer
(Dept. of General Surgery, Yangpu Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai 200090, China)
Abstract:
Objective To investigate serum levels of CEA, CA199, TGFα and TGFβ1 in patients with gastric cancer and the diagnostic value of combination of these 4 markers. Methods Serum CEA, CA199, TGFα and TGFβ1 levels were measured by electric chemilluminescent assay or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 60 patients with gastric cancer and 20 healthy subjects(control group). The serum markers were measured before and after operation in patients with gastric cancer. The relationship of serum tumor marker levels with gender, age, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and clinical stages were analyzed. Results Compared with the control group, serum CEA, CA199, TGFα and TGFβ1levels of gastric cancer patients were significantly increased(P<0.05). The average levels of these markers of patients were significantly decreased at d7, d14, d28 and d56 after surgery(P<0.05) and gradually returned to normal levels. The positive rate of combined detection of CEA, CA199, TGFα and TGFβ1(85.0%) was significantly higher than that of single detection(38.3%,46.7%,53.3% and 51.7%), the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Serum CEA, CA199, TGFα and TGFβ1 levels were not correlated with age, gender and tumor size of patients, while correlated with clinicopathologic staging of gastric cancer; and serum TGFβ1 level was correlated with lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. Conclusion The levels of serum markers are related to gastric cancer development. Combined detection of CEA, CA199, TGFα and TGFβ1might be helpful to early diagnosis of gastric cancer.