The use of carcinoembryonic antigen and peptide hormones to stage and monitor patients with lung cancer.

Abstract

Abstract Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and the peptide hormones adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), calcitonin, parathormone (PTH), beta-human-chorionic gonadotropin β-hCG), growth hormone (hGH), and prolactin were determined in more than 100 patients with lung cancer before and during therapy. CEA values were increased in 51% of lung cancer patients at diagnosis. The peptide hormones ACTH, calcitonin, PTH, and β-hCG showed elevated levels with a frequency of about 20 to 50%. The highest hormone levels were found in patients with oat cell carcinoma. In contrast to CEA, peptide hormone levels did not correlate with the clinical stage of disease. Serial determinations of CEA and peptide hormones showed the usefulness of these tumor markers for monitoring therapy.