Evaluation of Cancer‐Associated Carbohydrate Antigen (NCC‐ST‐439) Measurement in Pure Pancreatic Juice Collected by Endoscopic Aspiration

Abstract

Abstract: This study was undertaken to elucidate the diagnostic significance of the measurement of a cancer‐associated carbohydrate antigen, NCC‐ST‐439 (ST‐439), in pure pancreatic juice collected by endoscopic cannulation, chiefly from patients with pancreatic diseases.The mean concentrations of ST‐439 in each of the 4 fractions collected were significantly higher in patients with pancreatic cancer than in controls, but patients with chronic pancreatitis or cholecystolithiasis did not have higher levels. Similarly, a significant increase in the mean output of ST‐439 was observed only in patients with pancreatic cancer. When the cut‐of value was set at the mean concentration+ 2 X the standard deviations of the controls, significant concentrations of ST‐439 were found, in the first fraction (washout phase) in 56% of the pancreatic cancer cases, 31% of the chronic pancreatitis cases and 0% of the cholecystolithiasis cases; in the third fraction (secretory phase) results were 50%, 7% and 0%, respectively. Furthermore, when the cut‐of value was set at the highest concentration found among patients with chronic pancreatitis (to enhance the specificity for pancreatic cancer), the prevalence of significant ST‐339 levels among Pancreatic cancer patients was 50% in the first fraction and 44% in the third fraction.These results indicate that the measurement of ST‐439 in pancreatic juice is useful as a specific marker for pancreatic cancer, although its sensitivity is less than was initially hoped,