Diagnostic and differential value of elevated serum KL-6 levels in pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Objective To determine the serum KL-6 level in patients with pancreatic carcinoma and investigate its diagnostic value. Methods The data of 53 pancreatic carcinoma (PC) patients; 68 chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients and 51 patients with high risks of pancreatic cancer (HR) with complete follow-up data were studied, and 50 healthy volunteers were used as controls. ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of KL-6, MUC4, and CA50. Radioimmunoassay methods were used to measure the serum CA19-9 levels. The sensitivity and specificity of KL-6 for the diagnosis of PC were determined, and the relationship between its levels and clinicopathologic parameters, patients' outcome were analyzed. Results The serum KL-6 levels were (753±548), (135±93), (105±55) and (99±50) U/ml in PC group, CP group, HR group and control group, and the value in PC group was significantly higher than those in other 3 groups (P 232 U/ml as the cut-off point, the sensitivity and specificity of KL-6 for the diagnosis of PC was 96% and 94%. Using >244 U/ml as the cut-off point, the sensitivity and specificity of KL-6 for the diagnosis of PC was 97% and 91%. The clinical value of KL-6 was higher than those of CA19-9, CASO and MUC4. The serum level of KL-6 was not associated with clinicopathologic parameters. The median survival of patients with serum level of KL-6 =300 U/ml was (9.3 ±1.2) months, which was significantly longer than that in patients with serum level of KL-6 >300 U/ml [ (4.6 ±0.7) months, P =0.006]. Conclusions KL-6 might be a useful serological marker of pancreatic cancer, and it may play a role in the differential diagnosis between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. Key words: Pancreatic neoplasms; MUC1 mucin; Case-control studies; Krebs you den Lundgen-6