Carbohydrate Antigen 50: Values for Diagnosis and Prognostic Prediction of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

Background and objectives: Cancer-associated carbohydrate antigen 50 (CA50) is a marker for detection of gastrointestinal cancers, especially of pancreatic and colon cancer. In this study, the power of CA50 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker was evaluated in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Materials and Methods: Serum CA50 levels of iCCA patients and non-cholangiocarcinoma controls (non-CCA, including healthy persons and patients with benign biliary diseases and other gastrointestinal cancers) were measured using MAGLUMI®800 CLIA analyzer. Diagnostic and prognostic values of serum CA50 levels were evaluated. Results: CA50 levels in the sera of iCCA patients were significantly higher than those of non-CCA controls (p < 0.001, Mann–Whitney U test). Using cut-off value of 25 U/mL, CA50 provided 65.9% sensitivity, 87.3% specificity, and 80.1% accuracy for diagnosis of iCCA. Serum CA50 levels were increased and associated with the severity of bile duct pathology. In addition, a higher level of CA50 was associated with poor clinical outcome and shorter survival in iCCA patients. Multivariate survival analysis by Cox regression model revealed the potential of CA50 as an independent poor prognostic indicator for iCCA, regardless of the age, sex, histological types, or tumor stages. Conclusions: CA50 can be a diagnostic and poor prognostic marker candidate for iCCA.

Predictive Value of the Total Bilirubin and CA50 Screened Based on Machine Learning for Recurrence of Bladder Cancer Patients

“… 42 The elevated levels of CA50 in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma suggest that the expression of CA50 may help distinguish between benign and malignant bile duct diseases. 43 It has been reported that the level of serum tumor marker CA50 can serve as an auxiliary indicator for diagnosing early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which is of great significance for improving the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. 44 The high levels of serum CA50 detected in patients with colorectal cancer can be used to assist in monitoring disease recurrence and metastasis.…”

Biliary Strictures and Cholangiocarcinoma – Untangling a Diagnostic Conundrum

“…In a recent study, serum levels of CA50 taken from 85 patients with iCCA were compared to healthy individuals (n=110), patients with benign biliary disorders (n = 23) and other cancers (n = 33). CA50 levels differentiated iCCA from non-CCA cases with 65.9% sensitivity and 87.3% specificity (AUC = 0.806) ( 130 ).…”

Diagnostic value of carbohydrate antigen 50 in biliary tract cancer: A large‐scale multicenter study

“… 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 Despite extensive research on the screening and diagnostic value of CA50, its powerful evidence and data in BTC or CHC patients have rarely been explored. 19 , 20 To date, the exact clinical value of CA50 in BTCs remains unclear. Whether CA50 was more effective in combination with other tumor markers was also unclear.…”