The Prognostic Relevance of Preoperative CEA and CA19-9 for Ampulla of Vater Carcinoma.

Abstract

Increased serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA19-9) are established prognostic factors in ampulla of Vater carcinoma (AC). We determined the best cut-off values of preoperative CEA and CA19-9 and compared the prognostic power of preoperative CEA with that of preoperative CA19-9 for overall survival (OS). A total of 116 consecutive patients without jaundice who underwent macroscopic curative resection for AC between January 2002 and August 2019 were enrolled. Using the minimum p-value approach based on the OS, the optimal CEA cut-off value was found to be 6.5 ng/ml; however, the cut-off value of CA19-9 could not be determined, as no significant p value was identified. The OS of the patients with CEA >6.5 ng/ml (n=5; 3-year OS, 20.0%) was significantly worse than that with CEA ≤6.5 ng/ml (n=111; 3-year OS, 76.6%; p<0.001). A Cox proportional hazards analysis for OS revealed CEA >6.5 ng/ml (hazard ratio=4.01, p=0.019) to be an independent prognostic factor. In patients with AC, although the CA19-9 optimal cut-off value could not be determined, CEA >6.5 ng/ml independently affected long-term survival after resection.