Abstract
This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical values of single markers and combination in the diagnosis, short-term efficacy and recurrence risk assessment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).MethodsTotally 50 patients with I-IVa stage ESCC, 50 healthy controls and 11 patients with recurrent esophageal cancer after comprehensive treatment were enrolled. Serum biomarkers were collected and evaluated. Serum concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and after treatment.ResultsThe diagnostic efficacy ROC curve area of CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE in esophageal cancer was 0.70, 0.71 and 0.64(all P <0.05), respectively, the sensitivity was 80%, 88.89% and 60% respectively, and the specificity was 53%, 58.5% and 58% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined detection were 68% and 78% respectively. The area under ROC curve was 0.75. CEA, CYFRA21-1 and NSE were significantly higher than the healthy control group and thus can be used as diagnostic markers of esophageal cancer (all P <0.05). After standard treatment, the clinical CR and PR rate of patients with positive CYFRA21-1 or NSE before treatment was significantly lower than that of patients with negative CYFRA21-1 or NSE (X2 = 4.52,P =0.03). A significant negative correlation was found between N stage and clinical efficacy (HR 2.48, 95%CI 1.07-5.73). After comprehensive treatment, the serum CYFRA21-1 and NSE levels in recurrent patients also increased significantly(all P<0.05), indicating these two markers play obvious roles in recurrence monitoring.ConclusionCYFRA21-1 and NSE may help to predict the response of ESCC to CRT, and play important roles in the diagnosis and recurrence monitoring of esophageal cancer. These markers have a diagnostic value of esophageal cancer when combined with CEA.
Highlights
The incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer, one common gastrointestinal tumor, rank seventh and sixth respectively among all malignant tumors, according to a global cancer report [1]
The 50 esophageal cancer patients were divided into four clinical stages, including 2, 19, 18 and 11 patients at stages I, II, III and IVA respectively, according to the 7th edition of the American Joint Commission on cancer (AJCC)
After radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy according to Recist1.1 evaluation standard, 4, 26, 14 and 6 cases reached clinical Complete response (CR), Partial response (PR), Stable disease (SD), and PD respectively (Table 1)
Summary
The incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer, one common gastrointestinal tumor, rank seventh and sixth respectively among all malignant tumors, according to a global cancer report [1]. These two rates increase year by year, and the 5year survival rate of esophageal cancer is less than 20%, according to data of sexually transmitted diseases. Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the main treatment methods of ESCC, but most patients have lost the opportunity of surgery. In clinical practice, finding non-invasive detection methods to evaluate the treatment effect, monitor tumor recurrence, and even screen out high-risk recurrence groups is urgent
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
