SIMULTANEOUS EVALUATION OF A PANCREAS-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN AND A PANCREATIC CANCER-ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN IN PANCREATIC-CARCINOMA

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (8) , 3604-3607
Abstract
A pancreas cancer-associated antigen (PCAA) and a pancreas-specific antigen (PaA) were simultaneously quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays [ELISA] in serum specimens from 51 normal controls, 76 pancreatic cancers 194 nonpancreatic cancers and 22 benign pancreatic diseases. Primary immunological reagents used in the ELISA were polyclonal antibodies produced in rabbits against purified PCAA and PaA. Results revealed discordance of these 2 markers in pancreatic cancer, suggesting that the presence of these 2 biochemically and immunologically distinct pancreas proteins in patients'' serum may reflect different biological aspects of cancer. The combination test resulted in a better sensitivity and specificity for pancreatic cancer, 90 and 85%, respectively, than either PCAA or PaA assay alone. The combination of serum PCAA and PaA tests yields an additive clinical value and may be a useful adjunctive aid for the immunodiagnosis of the pancreatic cancer.