CYFRA-21-1 - PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCES IN B RONCHIAL-CARCINOMA AND OTHER TUMORS

CYFRA 21-1 (CYFRA) is a new tumor-associated marker which appears to b e useful in monitoring non-small cell bronchial carcinoma. We examined 193 sera from tumor patients (92 of whom had bronchial carcinoma), an d 62 patients with benign lung disease. Sensitivity and specificity of CYFRA was compared with that of CEA, TPA, TPS and SCC in squamous cel l bronchial carcinoma and with that of NSE in small cell bronchial car cinoma. The sensitivity of CYFRA in other tumor localizations was also assessed. In squamous cell bronchial carcinoma CYFRA proved to be the best marker with respect to sensitivity (58%) and specificity (98%). In gastrointestinal tumors CYFRA had a similar sensitivity to CEA. Sin ce the two markers do not correlate their sensitivity is additive. In conclusion, CYFRA is confirmed as marker of first choice in squamous c ell bronchial carcinoma. In other tumors CYFRA displayed a similar sen sitivity to CEA.