Combined estrogen and tumor markers for detection of female patients with lung adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of estrogen (E2) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) levels in serum of female patients with lung adenocarcinoma, and to explore the significance of combined detection. Methods The study subjects were 120 female patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum E2, CEA, CA125 and CYFRA21-1 levels before and 1 to 3 months after operation. CEA, CA125 and CYFRA21-1 levels were also detected in different groups of A549 cells that transfected by estrogen and estrogen receptor inhibitor. The clinical significance of combined detection was analyzed. Results The levels of serum E2, CEA, CA125 and CYFRA21-1 were decreased postoperatively [(26.51±14.53) vs. (14.63±8.62) pg/ml; (41.53±18.43) vs. (7.66±1.88) ng/ml; (60.46±17.87) vs. (18.01±1.90) U/ml; (10.02±4.36) vs. (2.37±1.03) ng/ml], with the difference being statistically significant (P=0.001). The E2 levels were positively correlated with CEA, CA125 and CYFRA21-1 (P=0.001). In the cell experiments, 4 groups wer set up: blank control group, E2 group, Fulvestrant group (Ful group), E2+ Ful group. The results showed that the levels of CEA, CA125 and CYFRA21-1 were E2 group>E2+ Ful group>blank group>Ful group. There was statistically significant difference between E2 group and the rest group (P=0.001), there was statistically significant difference between the E2+ Ful group or the blank group and the Ful group (P=0.003). Conclusion The combined detection of serum E2 and tumor markers can be used as a reference index for early diagnosis and evaluation of short-term prognosis in female patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Key words: Estrogen; Tumor marker; Female; Lung adenocarcinoma