The diagnostic value of serum tumor markers in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients

Background and Aim: Early and differential diagnosis, histological subtyping are important issues in the management of patients with lung cancer (LC). The aim of this study is to investigate the diagnostic value of a panel of serum tumor markers in newly diagnosed LC. Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from 99 patients with LC (42 adenocarcinoma, 35 squamous, and 22 small cell carcinoma) and from 30 patients with benign lung disease. Progastrin releasing peptide (PGRP), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg), cytokeratin 19-fragments (CYFRA 21.1), human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), Chromogranin A (CgA) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were measured. The diagnostic value was assessed with ROC curve analyses; the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Results: Serum CYFRA 21.1, PGRP, SCCAg, NSE levels were significantly higher in LC patients. While PGRP levels were higher (p=0.009) in SCLC; CYFRA 21.1 and SCCAg levels were higher in NSCLC (p=0.019 and p=0.001, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of tumor markers were 71.7%, 83.3% for CYFRA 21.1;69.7%, 56.7% for HE4; 18.1%, 93.3% for PGRP; 43.4 %, 76.6% for SCCAg; 53.5%, 53.3% for CgA; 72.7%, 50% for NSE. CYFRA 21.1 (p Conclusion: A panel of three tumor markers CYFRA 21.1, HE4 and PGRP may play a role for discriminating LC from benign lung disease and subtyping as SCLC.