CA19-9 as a Tumor Marker for Esophageal Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): A. McKnight, A. Mannell, I. Shperling
Primary Institution: Witwatersrand University Medical School
Hypothesis
Can carbohydrate antigen CA19-9 be used as a marker for esophageal cancer in African patients?
Conclusion
CA19-9 is not sensitive enough to be used as a screening test for esophageal cancer but may help monitor disease recurrence.
Supporting Evidence
- The sensitivity of CA19-9 for esophageal cancer was found to be 34%.
- The specificity of CA19-9 was 82%.
- 34 patients with esophageal cancer had elevated CA19-9 levels.
- 5 patients with benign disease also had elevated CA19-9 levels.
Takeaway
Doctors looked at a blood test to see if it could help find esophageal cancer early, but it doesn't work well enough for that yet.
Methodology
Serum samples were taken from patients with esophageal cancer and benign conditions, and CA19-9 levels were measured using a radioimmunoassay.
Limitations
CA19-9 is not sensitive enough for screening and may give false positives in benign conditions.
Participant Demographics
100 African patients with esophageal cancer (80 men, 20 women) and 28 with benign disease (12 men, 16 women).
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Statistical Significance
p=0.001
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