SERUM M3 M21 IN CERVICAL-CANCER PATIENTS

Cytokeratins are polypeptides which constitute a subclass of intermedi ate filaments in epithelial cells. The serum tumour marker M3/M21 is b ased on monoclonal antibodies against the epitopes M3 and M21 of cytok eratin 18. In the present study, we measured M3/M21 serum levels in 50 patients with FIGO stage IB-IIB cervical cancer and in 50 control sub jects using a two-site radiometric immunoassay directed against solubl e fragments of cytokeratin 18. Median serum levels of M3/M21 in patien ts with cervical cancer and in normal controls were 70.6 U/ml (range 0 -397.7) and 6.5 U/ml (range 0-205.2), respectively (Mann-Whitney U-tes t, P = 0.0001). Median serum levels of M3/M21 prior to therapy and 4 w eeks after therapy were 104.2 U/ml (range 24.6-397.7) and 39.3 U/ml (r ange 0-234.7), respectively (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.004). We found a significant correlation between elevated M3/M21 serum levels and me tastatic disease in pelvic lymph nodes (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.002 ). 24 patients relapsed after complete remission. In these patients, e levated M3/M21 serum levels before the detection of relapse by compute d tomography was observed in 13 cases. Considering these preliminary r esults, further studies with an increased number of patients are justi fied to clarify the prognostic value and the monitoring abilities of M 3/M21 in cervical cancer patients. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.