CA 242 in comparison with established tumour markers in colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancer

In a prospective study (N=566) we investigated the tumour associated carboh ydrate-protein CA 242, focusing on the question whether CA 242 (CaNAG, Swed en) expression in carcinoma patients is distinctly higher than in benign di sorders, especially when compared to CA 19-9 (EIA Roche Germany). A second point of interest was if CA 242 is expressed to a higher extent in early st ages of colorectal cancer than CEA (MEIA Abbott, USA) and CA 19-9 are, and third its behavior in pancreatic and lung cancer. We found CA 242 values co mparable in healthy individuals and benign gastrointestinal disorders, thus CA 19-9 remains the marker of first choice for pancreatic cancer and CEA f or colorectal cancer. CA 242 shows no advantage in lung cancel as compared to the established markers (CEA, CYFRA 21-1 (EIA Roche Germany) and NSE (EI A Hoffmann LaRoche, Switzerland) and no clearly higher expression in early colorectal cancer. Overall, the combination of CEA and CA 242 shows the bes t sensitivity in colorectal cancer.