Abstract
Serial determinations of serum β2-microglobulin (β2m) and carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) were performed in 314 patients with histologically confirmed gastrointestinal cancer. The data were correlated with a set of clinical parameters. Pre-operative serum β2m levels did not discriminate different classes of tumor extension nor different stages of resectability of tumors in contrast to CEA. During post-operative surveillance the correlation of the time courses of serum β2m and CEA with the clinical course of malignant disease was studied in a selected group of 165 patients with resected primary carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. During the follow-up 74 165 patients showed disease progression or recurrence. In the β2m follow-up 66% false negative indications ( 49 74 ) of malignant disease were observed, whereas in the CEA follow-up it was 5% ( 4 74 ). The ratio of correct positive/false positive indications was 25 10 in the β2m follow-up and 70 10 in the CEA follow-up. The data indicate that the formation of serum β2m is not directly tumor associated in gastrointestinal cancer.
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