Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

22 February 2002

Tumor markers in metastatic disease from cancer of unknown primary origin.

Ivan Popov, Marijana Milović, Svietislav Jelić

Med Sci Monit 2002; 8(2): MT25-30 :: ID: 420926

Abstract

BACKGROUND: About 5-10% of cancer patients suffer from cancer of unknownprimary (CUP). Sophisticated diagnostic techniques have not improved diagnostic efficacy for these patients.The aim of our analysis was to evaluate serum levels of four tumor markers and to relate them to thehistology, number, and sites of metastases, the response to chemotherapy, and survival. MATERIAL/METHODS:Blood samples from 46 patients with CUP were assayed for CEA, CA 19-9, CA 15-3 and CA 125. Specific IMxtumor marker assays (Abbott) were used to measure tumor marker quantities. RESULTS: No significant differenceswere detected between the mean levels of all markers for the two histological types (adenocarcinoma vs.undifferentiated carcinoma). The comparison of tumor marker values in patients with one metastatic locationto those with two or more showed no significant differences. We found no differences in marker valuesbetween patients with disease sites in the thorax vs. those with abdominal metastases. The comparisonof marker negative, CEA positive and non-CEA positive patients failed to reveal significant differencesin response rate. The comparison of CEA positive and marker negative patients showed significant differencesin survival (log-rank, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that patients with CUP have a nonspecificoverexpression of serum tumor markers and that routine use of these markers does not offer diagnosticassistance. Nevertheless, the pattern of expression of some biological markers, such as CEA, could haveprognostic significance for survival.

Keywords: Neoplasms, Unknown Primary, Tumor Markers, Biological

Add Comment 0 Comments

Editorial

01 March 2024 : Editorial  

Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204

0:00

In Press

18 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research  

Sexual Dysfunction in Women After Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944136  

0:00

21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049  

22 Feb 2024 : Review article  

Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168  

23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732  

Most Viewed Current Articles

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research  

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

17 Jan 2024 : Review article  

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research  

Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase Levels

DOI :10.12659/MSM.937990

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990

0:00

01 Jan 2022 : Editorial  

Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750