TUMOR-MARKERS IN RESPONSE MONITORING AND PROGNOSIS OF NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CANCER - PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Background: The significance of tumor markers in lung cancer is not we d established. Patients and methods: We analyzed level of serum marker s as prognostic factor of response and survival in 46 evaluable patien ts with locally advanced or metastasic non small cell lung cancer. AIL patients were treated with cisplatin 120 mg/m(2) or carboplatin 400 m g/m(2) day 2, plus etoposide 80 mg/m(2) days 1 to 3. Results: Partial response was obtained in II patients (24%), stabilization in 18 and pr ogression in 17. Tumor marker sensitivities were: CEA 37%, CA 125 54,5 %, SCC 17,5%, NSE 30,5%, and CYFRA 52%. Higher levels of CEA and NSE c orrelated with more probability of response (p<0.001 and p=0.002). The survival probability of patients with normal pretreatment levels of N SE was significantly better than those with NSE over normal level (15, 2 vs 7,2 months) p=0,02. In patients who achieved partial response CEA , CA 125 and CYFRA levels decreased significantly with respect to the pretreatment values. Conclusions: Patients with high CEA and NSE serum level have an increased probability of response than patients with lo w initial levels; however, patients with high initial level of NSE hav e poor survival. The decrease in CEA, CA 125 and CYFRA values at the m oment of response evaluation could help in response assessment.