Tumor markers carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 50, and CA 19-9 and squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus pretreatment screening

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Abstract
Pretreatment serum levels of the tumor markers Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 50, and CA 19‐9 in 95 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus and 32 age‐matched controls were compared. Thirty‐nine percent of the cancer patients showed elevated (≥5 μg/l) serum CEA levels, 41% had elevated (≥17 U/ml) CA 50 levels, and 13% showed elevated (≥37 U/ml) CA 19‐9 levels. The tumor markers showed a considerable degree of complementarity, and combined tumor marker analysis increased the sensitivity to 59%. Raised CEA levels were found significantly more frequently in intrathoracically localized tumors than in cervical cancers. Patients surviving less than 6 months showed a higher rate of elevated CEA assays than those who survived 6 to 18 months. No certain correlation was established between tumor marker elevation and tumor stage or tumor differentiation.