THE ASSOCIATION OF PREOPERATIVE SERUM TUMOR-MARKERS WITH DUKES STAGE AND SURVIVAL IN COLORECTAL-CANCER

The tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), TPS, CA 19-9, CA 50 and CA 242 were analysed in serum f rom 203 potentially curable colorectal cancer patients. The levels of all markers increased with increasing tumour stage, and all markers co rrelated with survival. Multivariate analyses indicated that the Dukes stage had the best prognostic explanatory power, followed by TPA. In the subset of 166 potentially cured patients, the prognostic informati on by the markers was substantially reduced. We conclude that preopera tive serum tumour marker measurements have the potential to aid therap y selection, but also that their clinical usefulness is not immediatel y apparent.