ABSTRACT
Hematopoietic cytokines [HCs] induce proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Moreover, the HCs receptors have been found on non hematopoietic tumor cell lines including colorectal cancer [CRC]. Elevated concentrations of several circulating cytokines, among which macrophage colony stimulating factor [M-CSF], have been previously shown in patients with colorectal carcinoma. Elevated serum concentrations of M-CSF have been found in a variety of malignant diseases. The aim of our study was to study the significance of combined M-CSF and carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] in the diagnosis of CRC and the association between of schistosomiasis endemicity and colorectal cancer
Patients and methods: The serum levels of M-CSF and CEA were assayed in 29 colorectal cancer, 29 colorectal adenoma patients and in 29 healthy subjects [control group]. We defined the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and areas under ROC curves for the measurands. Complete colonoscopic examination and rectal snip for bilharzial ova were done
Results: Median values of MCSF and CEA were signiJicantIy higher in colorectal cancer patients than those in healthy subjects. The diagnostic specificities and positive predictive value were higher for M-CSF. The highest values of diagnostic parameters were observed when M-CSF and CEA were combined. The M-CSF area under the receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve was larger than the area of CEA
Conclusions: M-CSF might be useful as a tumor marker, especially in combination with CEA, for diagnosis of colorectal cancer, but not in the differentiation between colorectal cancer and polyps