ABSTRACT
Tumor markers have been clinically used to monitor the progression of various tumors or to assess their response to therapy. We studied the effects of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD) on the serum levels of nine tumor markers; carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA), squamous cell carcinoma- related antigen(SCC), CYFRA 21-1, CA(carbohydrate antigen) 125, CA 19-9, -fetoprotein(AFP), prostate specific antigen(PSA), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and CA 72-4.Serum tumor markers were measured in 68 persons without chronic renal failure (CRF) as controls, and 46 stable CAPD patients who did not present any evidences of neoplasia. The results were as followings: 1) Serum AFP, PSA, hCG and CA 72-4 levels were almost within normal limits in the peritoneal dialysis similar to normal control groups; positive values were 2.2%, 3.8%, 8.3% and 4.0%, respectively. 2) Serum tumor markers, which were raised in the peritoneal dialysis compared to normal controls, include; CEA (5.29+/-3.6 vs. 1.42+/-1.0, P<0.001); SCC (3.90+/-5.57 vs. 0.9+/-1.1, P<0.01); CYFRA 21-1 (5.45+/-3.2 vs. 1.80+/-1.5, P<0.001); CA 125 (31.22+/-40.8 vs. 17.91+/-11.7, P<0.001); CA 19-9 (24.25+/-18.3 vs. 14.41+/-12.1, P<0.01). Raised CEA, SCC, CYFRA 21-1, CA 19-9 and CA 125 levels were detected 50%, 75%, 88.6%, 21.6% and 20.0% of peritoneal dialysis patients. In conclusion, serum levels of CEA, SCC, CYFRA 21-1, CA 19-9, CA 125 cannot be used as prognostic indicators for patients with malignancy while undergoing peritoneal dialysis treatment, but the other tumor markers such as AFP, PSA, hCG and CA 72-4 can be used as reliable tumor markers for patients of peritoneal dialysis similar to normal healthy people.