Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4) in Patients with Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic utility of HE4 with NSE, ProGRP, CYFRA 21-1, CEA, and CA 125 and evaluate their prognostic value in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHODS: HE4, ProGRP, NSE, CYFRA 21-1, CEA, and CA 125 assays were performed in 63 patients with smallcell lung cancer (limited disease (LD) - 41, extensive disease (ED) - 22) and in 66 individuals of the reference group. RESULTS: Area under the ROC curves for HE4, ProGRP, NSE, CA 125, CYFRA 21-1, and CEA were 0.884, 0.923, 0.826, 0.796, 0.739, and 0.704, respectively. The tumor marker serum concentrations were associated with tumor stage (HE4, ProGRP, NSE, CYFRA 21-1, CEA), and disease progression occurred within one year (HE4, ProGRP, NSE, CYFRA 21-1). The tumor advancement, performance status, gender and tumor markers, except CEA and CA 125, were significantly associated with survival. Independent, unfavourable prognostic factors included extensive disease (HR 4.14, p < 0.0001) and NSE concentration above 35 g/l (HR 2.62, p = 0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic utility of HE4 was similar to that of NSE and ProGRP. Complementary to NSE, determination of HE4 seems to be helpful in evaluation of SCLC patients' prognosis.

Preoperative radiotherapy does not alter pre- and early postoperative serum C-reactive protein and albumin concentrations in colorectal cancer patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to assess the alterations of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and albumin levels in colorectal cancer patients who underwent preoperative radio(chemo)therapy and those who did not. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The determinations of albumin and CRP were performed before and at 2, 3, 5 and 7 days after surgery in 60 colorectal cancer patients. 25 healthy subjects served as a reference group. For each patient the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) was calculated. RESULTS: On the operation day CRP and albumin concentrations were not different in preoperatively treated or radiotherapy naïve patients. On postoperative day 2, 3, 5 and 7 no significant differences were observed between the two groups, with the only exception for albumin concentration, which was significantly higher on postoperative days 2 and 7 in the radiation naïve group. In all patients perioperative alterations of serum CRP level were significant at all time points (preoperatively vs. day 2, day 2 vs. day 3, day 3 vs. day 5, day 5 vs. day 7). The albumin decrease from the preoperative day to postoperative day 2 was significant, as was its increase from postoperative day 3 to 5. CONCLUSIONS: We have seen no differences in the CRP and albumin concentrations in preoperatively irradiated versus non-irradiated colorectal cancer patients on the day of surgery and on postoperative days 2, 3, 5 and 7. There were, however, significant concentration changes in the value of these two serum markers from preoperatively to postoperative day 2 and over the following postoperative week, but presumably related to the surgical trauma, not the neoadjuvant treatment.