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Serum carcinoembryonic antigen level in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with preoperative normal serum level

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Abstract

Objective

The prognostic significance of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with a normal serum CEA level (<5.0 ng/ml) was examined.

Methods

A total of 220 consecutive NSCLC patients with preoperative normal serum CEA levels were included. Patients were subdivided into two groups: preoperative serum CEA level ≥2.5 and <2.5 ng/ml.

Results

The 5-year survival of patients with preoperative serum CEA level less and more than 2.5 ng/ml were 79.62% and 62.0%, respectively (P = 0.0036). Multivariate analysis indicated that a preoperative serum CEA level of ≥2.5 ng/ml was an independent prognostic factor. Similar results were found in patients with adenocarcinoma but not found in others.

Conclusion

NSCLC patients with a high serum CEA level, especially adenocarcinoma patients, had poorer prognosis even if their serum CEA levels were within the normal upper limit.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery II, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, 889-1692, Japan

    Masaki Tomita, Tetsuya Shimizu, Masaki Hara, Takanori Ayabe & Toshio Onitsuka

Authors
  1. Masaki Tomita
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  2. Tetsuya Shimizu
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  3. Masaki Hara
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  4. Takanori Ayabe
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  5. Toshio Onitsuka
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Correspondence to Masaki Tomita.

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Tomita, M., Shimizu, T., Hara, M. et al. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen level in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with preoperative normal serum level. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 57, 303–306 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-008-0397-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-008-0397-6

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