The clinical value of Cyfra 21-1 estimation for lung cancer patients

• Published in: The International journal of biological markers Vol. 11; no. 3; p. 172
• Main Authors: Szturmowicz, M, Sakowicz, A, Rudzinski, P, Zych, J, Wiatr, E, Zaleska, J, Rowinska-Zakrzewska, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.1996
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - blood; Adult; Aged; Antigens, Neoplasm - blood; Biomarkers, Tumor - blood; Carcinoma, Small Cell - blood; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - blood; Female; Humans; Keratin-19; Keratins; Lung Neoplasms - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Survival
• ISSN: 0393-6155
• DOI: 10.1177/172460089601100306

Cytokeratin-19, one of the cytoskeletal proteins, is expressed both in bronchial epithelium and in lung cancer cells. The aim of our study was to establish the value of serum cytokeratin-19 soluble fragment (Cyfra 21-1) measurement in lung cancer patients. Cyfra 21-1 levels were estimated in 35 patients (pts) with benign lung diseases and in 116 lung cancer patients: 55 pts with squamous cell lung cancer, 38 pts with small cell lung cancer and 23 pts with adenocarcinoma. The cutoff level was set at 4 ng/ml with a specificity of 94% and a sensitivity of 40%. Elevated Cyfra 21-1 values were found in 44% of squamous cell lung cancer, 39% of adenocarcinoma and 34% of small cell lung cancer pts (the difference was not significant). In squamous cell lung cancer and in adenocarcinoma elevated Cyfra 21-1 values were observed more often in patients with advanced disease than in patients with limited disease. There was no significant correlation between the initial Cyfra 21-1 level and the response to chemotherapy. Cyfra 21-1 was not a prognostic indicator, although in operable squamous cell lung cancer the proportion of survivors in the second year of observation was higher among the patients with normal preoperative Cyfra 21-1 levels.