AN EXPERT-SYSTEM APPROACH FOR THE OBJECTIVE INTERPRETATION OF SERUM TUMOR-MARKER LEVELS

The aim of our work was to study specific aspects of statistical Weins tein-Bayes's analysis in order to find the most suitable program for p resenting our results and for obtaining information which could be use d as a guide in the clinical decision-making process. Our efforts resu lted in a computer processing system based on modified Weinstein-Bayes receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. The data analysis provides numeric values of sensitivity, specificity, positive predicti ve value and negative predictive value as output tumour marker databas es, which would serve as graphic input. It becomes possible to plot th e ROC curve as a graphical distribution of tumour marker levels. The c omputer program also allows the estimation of the potential utility of the serum tumour marker measured in patients with various diseases, s imultaneous determination of serum tumour markers in diseased patients , and the real value of each serum tumour marker level in diseased pat ients.