Serum CA 19-9, SLX, STN and CEA levels of the peripheral and the draining venous blood in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was conducted to elucidate the relationship bet ween the seropositive rates of Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), Sialyl Le(a) (CA 19-9), Sialyl Le(x) (SLX) and Sialyl Tn (STN) and the clinicopathologi cal variables. The correlation of serum levels of these antigens between th e peripheral venous blood and the venous blood draining from the tumor was also evaluated. METHODOLOGY: The subjects were 113 patients with gastric cancer, who underw ent gastrectomy at the First Department of Surgery, Yokohama City Universit y, between 1991 and 1996. Serum levels of CA 19-9, SLX, STN and CEA in the peripheral blood and the draining venous blood were measured RESULTS: The positive rates for CA 19-9, SLX, STN and CEA were closely corr elated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and depth of invasion. Alth ough the seropositive rates for CA 19-9, SLX, STN, and CEA in the draining venous blood were lower than those in the peripheral blood, a close correla tion for serum levels of 4 antigens between the peripheral venous blood and the draining venous blood was observed in advanced cancer. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that these antigens may be drained by th e lymphatic route as well as the hematogenous route. Further studies must b e performed to elucidate the mechanism of these antigens entering into the peripheral blood by devising a technique for collecting the lymph.