Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in pancreatic cancer. Role of age and liver dysfunction.

In order to ascertain the clinical usefulness of CA 19-9 in detecting pancreatic cancer in comparison with CEA, and to verify the influence of age and liver dysfunction on serum levels of these two antigens, serum CA 19-9 and CEA were assessed in 32 control subjects, 32 patients with pancreatic cancer, 26 with chronic pancreatitis and 43 with gastrointestinal extra-pancreatic diseases. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of CA 19-9 and CEA in detecting pancreatic cancer were: 69% and 44%, 91% and 75%, 60% and 19% respectively. Linear correlations were observed between the age of the subjects on the one hand and CA 19-9 or CEA on the other. Significant relationships were also noticed between alanine-amino-transferase or bilirubin serum levels and CA 19-9 values. Serum CA 19-9 seems to be a better diagnostic tool than CEA in the assessment of pancreatic cancer; nevertheless the influence of liver dysfunction and age to some extent limits the diagnostic value of CA 19-9.