Prognostic significance of tumour marker index based on preoperative CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic impact of tumour marker index (TMI) based on preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CYFRA 21-1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was examined using patients with a follow-up period more than 5 years.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and ninety-three consecutive NSCLC patients were reviewed retrospectively, and any patients with follow-up periods less than 5 years were omitted.

RESULTS: The 5-year survival of the patients with normal and high serum CEA levels was 71.52% and 48.41%, respectively (p<0.0001). The 5-year survival of the patients with a high serum CYFRA 21-1 level was 39.66%, which was significantly poorer compared with that of the patients with a normal serum CYFRA 21-1 level (66.95%, p<0.0001). There was a 5-year-survival rate of 72.28% in patients with a TMI less than or equal to 1.0 compared to only 37.08% in patients with a TMI greater than 1.0 (p<0.0001). Both univariate and multivariate analyses indicated the independent prognostic impact of TMI.

CONCLUSIONS: TMI may be useful for predicting the prognosis of NSCLC patients.