[Immunologically defined tumor-associated antigens: the possibilities and limitations of their use in gastroenterology].

The array of tumor-associated antigens has been extended recently by introducing novel mucin-like antigens, i.e. CA19-9, CA50, DU-PAN-2, TAG72/CA72-4 to gastroenterological oncology. Particularly in pancreatic cancer preoperative staging, postoperative prognosis, and follow-up have been improved considerably by determinations of these new tumormarkers. Yet, despite their irrelevance to screening procedures they may contribute to the differential diagnosis between benign and neoplastic pancreatic diseases ruling out false positive results by serial determinations. In contrast in colorectal cancer CEA is still superior to the tumor markers mentioned. Whether all of these tumormarkers indeed represent a diagnostic progress especially for tumors with no marker available like gastric cancer still has to be determined.