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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2005; 53(5): 300-304
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865671
Original Thoracic

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Prognostic Determinants for Lung Cancer Patients with Preoperative High Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Levels

M. Tomita1 , Y. Matsuzaki1 , T. Shimizu1 , M. Hara1 , T. Ayabe1 , T. Onitsuka1
  • 1Department of Surgery II, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki Medical College, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Japan
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Publication History

Received January 31, 2005

Publication Date:
06 October 2005 (online)

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Abstract

Background: Several reports have indicated that preoperative high serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are associated with poor survival after surgical resection in lung cancer. Methods: 82 consecutive lung cancer patients with preoperative high serum CEA levels (> 5 ng/mL) were included in this study. Postoperative serum CEA level was also measured. Prognostic indicators were evaluated. Results: Among patients with a preoperative high serum CEA level, a serum CEA level higher than 10 ng/mL, pT status, pN status, and positive pleural lavage cytology findings were unfavorable prognostic indicators, whereas age, gender, smoking status, histologic subtype were not. Postoperative serum CEA levels of all but 2 patients decreased, however those of 28 patients did not return to normal range. Our result showed that patients with postoperative high serum CEA level had poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that pT status, pN status, and postoperative high serum CEA level was an independent prognostic determinant. Conclusions: In lung cancer patients with preoperative high serum CEA levels, pT status, pN status, and normalization of serum CEA level after surgery are significant prognostic determinants.

Key words

Serum CEA - preoperative high - postoperative

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MD Masaki Tomita

Department of Surgery II
University of Miyazaki
Miyazaki Medical College

Kihara 5200

Kiyotake, Miyazaki

889-1692 Japan

Phone: + 81985852291

Fax: + 81 9 85 85 55 63

Email: mtomita@post.miyazaki-med.ac.jp