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Role of Serum Tumor Markers in Monitoring for Recurrence of Gastric Cancer Following Radical Gastrectomy

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Abstract

It has been suggested that the serum tumor markers AFP, CEA, and CA19-9 may serve as prognostic factors or indicators for recurrence after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. We compared the value of these markers in a group with (n=52) and a group without recurrent gastric cancer (n=52) according to the site of recurrence. Serum levels of tumor markers were measured at the time of preoperative diagnosis and at follow-up. At least one tumor marker was positive preoperatively in 20 with recurrence vs. 7 controls (p=0.007). The peritoneum was the most common recurrent site. The positive predictive value of AFP was high at the time of diagnosis and CA19-9 positivity was high at the time of recurrence. Positive CEA suggested recurrence to the liver. In summary, an elevated tumor marker at diagnosis or during follow up may identify patients at higher risk for a recurrence. CA19-9 may be especially useful as a marker for peritoneal recurrence of the gastric cancer, and CEA for recurrence to liver.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank David Y. Graham for reading the manuscript and for many helpful suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Dong-A University College of Medicine, 3-1, Dongdaesin-dong, Seo-gu, Busan, 602-715,, Korea

    Seok Reyol Choi, Jin Seok Jang, Jong Hun Lee & Myung Hwan Roh

  2. Department of Medicine, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

    Seok Reyol Choi & Waqar Qureshi

  3. Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea

    Min Chan Kim

  4. Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Medical College, Chinju, Korea

    Won Sup Lee

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  1. Seok Reyol Choi
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  2. Jin Seok Jang
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  5. Min Chan Kim
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Correspondence to Seok Reyol Choi.

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This paper was supported by the Dong-A University Research Fund in 2005

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Choi, S.R., Jang, J.S., Lee, J.H. et al. Role of Serum Tumor Markers in Monitoring for Recurrence of Gastric Cancer Following Radical Gastrectomy. Dig Dis Sci 51, 2081–2086 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9166-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-006-9166-5

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