A retrospective analysis of serum tumor markers found in non-small cell lung cancer.

AIM

This paper discusses the retrospective analysis conducted to determine the significance of diagnostic biomarkers, carcinoembryonic antigens (CEA), cytokeratin fragment antigens 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1), neuron-specific enolases (NSE), and tumor-specific growth factors (TSGF) upon patients who suffered with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From June 2010 to December 2011, we analyzed the positive rates of biomarkers in 276 NSCLC patients. We assessed the relationship between biomarkers and clinical characteristics of sex, smoking history, and disease stage.

RESULTS

The median and positive rates of each serum biomarker were marked as 1.91-22.77 ng/ml and 35.86% (CEA), 2.0-6.77 ng/ml and 50% (CYFRA 21-1), 13.91-23.78 ng/ml and 62.31% (NSE), and 56-67 μ/ml and 10.14% (TSGF). The level of CEA in peripheral (2.43-23.76 ng/ml) was significantly higher than the level at central position (1.97-3.63 ng/ml) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Although the positive CEA, CYFRA 21-1, NSE, and TSGF rates were observed at low values during the NSLCLC serum diagnosis, they still played an important role in diagnosing lung cancer. Significant levels of CEA, CYFRA 21-1, NSE, and TSGF were detected in the serum. The amounts found were useful for diagnosing NSCLC patients who depended on the currently limited biomarker development.