Carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha 1-fetoprotein, ferritin, and alpha 2-pregnancy associated glycoprotein in the serum of lung cancer patients and its demonstration in lung tumor tissues.

Levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), ferritin and alpha 2-pregency associated glycoprotein (alpha-2-PAG) were determined in patients with confirmed lung cancer at the time of diagnosis and in serial determinations during and after radio- or chemotherapy. Whereas AFP levels were not elevated in patients with lung cancer, increased levels of CEA, ferritin and alpha-2-PAG were found in more than 50% of the patients. The results suggest that determination of CEA, ferritin and alpha-2-PAG in the serum of patients with lung cancer may be useful to detect metastases or recurrences and to monitor the results of treatment. Furthermore, in this study CEA and ferritin could be demonstrated in extracts of lung tumor tissues by specific antisera.