Validity of some tumor markers in gastrointestinal tract malignancies

ABSTRACT

Seventy four cases with gastrointestinal tract [GIT] tumours were selected by systematic random sampling from the surgical inpatient clinics of Zagazig University Hospitals and investigated for the tumour markers alkaline phosphatase [AP], carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] and alpha-fetoprotein [AFP] before and after intervention by surgery. The same tumour markers were investigated in a crossly matched control group of apparently healthy 20 workers in the same hospitals. The present work aimed to assess the validity of these tumour markers as diagnostic methods for GIT tumours. Tumour marker averages were significantly decreased after surgical treatment except in both AP and CEA in gastric cancer cases. Specificity was highest by CEA [95.0%] followed by AFP [90.0%] then AP [75.0%]. Regarding sensitivity, it was highest [100.0%] by both CEA in cancer colon with hepatic metastasis and AFP in cancer stomach