Prognostic value of CA 19-9 kinetics during gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 493 - 500
• Main Authors: Lee, Ban Seok, Lee, Sang Hyub, Son, Jun Hyuk, Jang, Dong Kee, Chung, Kwang Hyun, Paik, Woo Hyun, Ryu, Ji Kon, Kim, Yong-Tae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Bile Duct Neoplasms - diagnosis; Bile Duct Neoplasms - drug therapy; Bile Duct Neoplasms - mortality; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; CA 19-9; CA-19-9 Antigen - blood; Carcinoembryonic Antigen - blood; CEA; cholangiocarcinoma; Cholangiocarcinoma - diagnosis; Cholangiocarcinoma - drug therapy; Cholangiocarcinoma - mortality; Deoxycytidine - administration & dosage; Deoxycytidine - analogs & derivatives; Disease Progression; Female; gemcitabine; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Survival Rate; CA 19-9; gemcitabine; cholangiocarcinoma; prognosis; CEA
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.13059

Little is known of the prognostic value of CEA/CA 19-9 kinetics during chemotherapy in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). A total of 236 patients with pathologically confirmed advanced CCA received gemcitabine-based chemotherapy were reviewed, and 179 were eligible for analysis. Baseline, pre-, and post-treatment (after two cycles of chemotherapy) CEA and CA 19-9 values were checked, and survival was compared according to various cutting points of baseline measurement or extent of change of tumor marker level. Patients with a ≥ 50% decline in CA 19-9 level had better survival than the others (16.0 vs 9.0 months). However, CEA decline did not predict survival gain. Significant favorable prognostic factors of survival in multivariable analysis included initial treatment response (HR 0.61), distal location of tumor (HR 0.46), baseline CA 19-9 level ≤ 1000 U/mL (HR 0.58), and ≥ 50% decline in CA 19-9 level (HR 0.50). Subgroup analysis was conducted in 114 patients with pre-treatment CA 19-9 > 37 U/mL and bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL. Decline ≥ 50% in CA 19-9 level still showed an independent prognostic significance (HR 0.45). CA 19-9 but not CEA kinetics serves as a predictor of better survival in patients with advanced CCA on gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. A ≥ 50% decline in CA 19-9 level after two cycles of chemotherapy may have clinical utility as an early indicator of better response to gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.