Original Article
Expression and prognostic relevance of tumor carcinoembryonic antigen in stage IB non-small cell lung cancer
Abstract
Background: High serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels have been reported to be associated with poor prognosis
in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while the prognostic role of tumor CEA expression remains to be defined. The
present study investigated the expression of tumor CEA in stage IB NSCLC, and correlated it with clinicopathological
features and prognosis.
Patients and methods: Immunohistochemistry for tumor CEA was assessed in the specimens of 183 patients with stage
IB NSCLC. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cut-off score for tumor
positivity.
Results: High CEA expression was detected more frequently in adenocarcinomas (72.2%) and other NSCLCs (69.0%)
than in squamous cell carcinomas (25.4%, P<0.001). Both univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that tumor CEA
was an independent prognostic factor for overall and disease-free survival (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Elevated expression of tumor CEA may be an adverse prognostic indicator in stages IB NSCLC.
in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while the prognostic role of tumor CEA expression remains to be defined. The
present study investigated the expression of tumor CEA in stage IB NSCLC, and correlated it with clinicopathological
features and prognosis.
Patients and methods: Immunohistochemistry for tumor CEA was assessed in the specimens of 183 patients with stage
IB NSCLC. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the cut-off score for tumor
positivity.
Results: High CEA expression was detected more frequently in adenocarcinomas (72.2%) and other NSCLCs (69.0%)
than in squamous cell carcinomas (25.4%, P<0.001). Both univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that tumor CEA
was an independent prognostic factor for overall and disease-free survival (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Elevated expression of tumor CEA may be an adverse prognostic indicator in stages IB NSCLC.
