Clinical use of tumor markers in pancreatic carcinoma

✍ Scribed by Maureen A. Chung; Helena R. Chang

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 473 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 8756-0437
• DOI: 10.1002/ssu.2980110205

✦ Synopsis

There is no ideal tumor marker for pancreatic carcinoma. Most of the tumor-associated antigens in this disease are cell surface mucins, such as CA19-9, TAG-72, CA242, CA50, CA195, and CA494. CA19-9 is the most promising marker. It is used for clinical and pathological diagnosis, prognosis, and response to chemotherapy. The other mucin antigens are currently being investigated for clinical practice. CA242 shows promise as a marker of tumor load and CA494 may play a role in immunotherapy. Oncofetal antigens such as CEA are not specific for pancreatic carcinoma and have a limited use in this disease. Malignancies associated with the endocrine pancreas secrete hormonal products which can be used as tumor markers. Fluid aspirated from pancreatic cysts can also be evaluated. Tumor antigens in aspirated fluid from pancreatic cysts should be interpreted with caution since multi-loculated cysts do not have a uniform expression of these markers.