Carcinoembryonic antigen and ferritin in patients with lung cancer before and during therapy

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were determined in 114 patients with confirmed lung cancer at the time of diagnosis using the CEA Ire-Sorin radioimmunoassay. Elevated CEA values were found in 47%. Most of the patients with high CEA levels had clinically detectable metastases. Ferritin was detectable by the Laurell-electrophoresis in the serum of 58 out of 81 (72%) of the patients with confirmed lung cancer at the time of diagnosis. Ferritin levels were significantly higher in patients with metastases. Serial measurements of CEA and ferritin during radio- and chemotherapy showed that the assay may be useful to evaluate the effects of therapy. Because of some false negative results both CEA and ferritin determinations should be used only in context with other clinical and laboratory findings.