Immuno-histopathological correlations in exocrine pancreatic cancer

Abstract

The CA19-9 antigen is a tumoral marker that can be found in high concentration within a maligned digestive pathology.

Objective: Study of CA19-9 antigen from the immunological point of view, at the patients with pancreatic cancer, and his relation with the histopathological aspects.

Material and method: The determinations have been done at the time of the diagnosis and after the treatment of the patients with pancreatic cancer (25).

Method: indirect ELISA.

Results: The values of the CA19-9 marker have been increased at the time of the diagnosis either in pancreatic cancer of the head and mid. At the moment of the diagnosis the CA19-9 marker has higher values (150-400 U/ml) in cancer of the pancreatic body than in cancer of the head of the pancreas (40-200 U/ml). Correlating the size of the tumor with the value of the CA19-9 marker in the case of pancreatic cancer we have been shown the highest serum values (300-400 U/ml) at patients whose tumor was 3 cm bigger. Four weeks post-surgery the CA19-9 values decreased (37-100 U/ml) or reached normal levels (<37 U/ml). At patients with local recurrence or metastasis, especially hepatical, CA19-9 values have increased (100-400 U/ml in case of recurrence and 800 U/ml in case of metastasis). The highest values of the CA 19-9 marker were found in cases of mid pancreas adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion: CA19-9 marker values higher than normal cause problems to digestive cancer (especially pancreatic). CA19-9 is a good marker for monitoring of these cancers after treatment; the favorable development is associated with lower values in comparison to the determinations before treatment, or with normal values, unfavorable evolution (local recurrence or metastasis) being associated with very high values. The high values of CA 19-9 suggest an adenocarcinoma.