Evaluation of serum TSGF, CA242 and CA19-9 in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in the elderly patients

Objective To evaluate the significance of serum TSGF, CA242 and CA19-9 level in diagnosing the pancreatic cancer in elderly patients. Methods The content of TSGF, CA242 and CA19-9 in 200 normal controls, 52 pancreatitis patients and 96 pancreatic cancer patients were determined with colorimctric of biochemistry and ELISA. Results The results displayed that positive likelihood ratio of priority of TSGF, CA242 and CA19-9 was 5.4, 12.6 and 6.3, and the negative likelihood ratio of priority was 0. 10, 0. 19 and 0. 17, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of TSGF as a single tumor marker for diagnosing the pancreatic cancer were as high as 91. 6% and 93. 5%, respectively. If all three positive markers were used as a diagnositic standard for the pancreatic cancer, the sensitivity was 77. 1% and the specificity was 100. 0%. The expression of TSGF and CA242 in patients with the pancreatic head carcinoma was significantly higher than those in patients with the pancreatic body or tail carcinoma, but CA19-9 expression showed no relation with the location of the cancer. The sensitivity of TSGF, CA242 and CA19-9 was increased with the progress of the carcinoma. The level of TSGF in stage I cancer was significantly higher than CA242 and CA19-9. Therefore, TSGF was regarded as a tumor marker in early pancreatic cancer. Conclusions The application of TSGF, CA242 and CA19-9 can enhance their specificity in diagnosing the pancreatic carcinoma. Their expression is important in different histological typing. The combination of these 3 indicators are helpful in the early diagnosis.