Diagnostic value of tumor markers for differentiating malignant and benign pleural effusions of Iranian patients

Abstract

In order to evaluate the diagnostic yield of tumor markers in differentiating malignant and benign pleural effusions, we carried out a prospective study in a group of Iranian people. Pleural and serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) were assayed prospectively in patients with pleural effusion (40 malignant and 37 benign). The highest sensitivity was obtained with a combination of CA 15-3 in serum, and CA 15-3 and CEA in pleural fluid (80%), also with combination of CA 15-3 in serum, and CA 15-3, NSE and CEA in pleural fluid (80%). The highest specificity was obtained with combination of CA 15-3 in serum, and CA 15-3 and NSE in pleural fluid (100%), and also with combination of CA 15-3 in serum, and CA15-3, NSE and CEA in pleural fluid (100%).

Diagnostic value of carbohydrate antigens in supernatants and sediments of pleural effusions

“…Furthermore, in agreement with other authors (12,20), Ca125 is not recommended as a useful diagnostic tool in malignant pleural effusion since immunohistochemical studies have shown that Ca125 is released from the pleura as well as from the peritoneum. In the present study, when the percentage of positivity for Ca125 was considered in the cytosolic materials of pleural effusion sediments, no significant difference was observed between benign and malignant diseases.…”

“…Diagnosis is normally carried out by invasive techniques, such as thoracoscopy, which show sensitivity but are not costeffective and induce physical and mental stress in the patient (8). The role of biochemical parameters or tumour markers were previously studied in order to increase the diagnostic capacity of pleural effusion analysis (9)(10)(11)(12)(13). The detection of these parameters or markers in bodily fluids is the result of a dynamic balance between the number of cells that synthesize the tumour marker, its capacity for synthesis and the amount eliminated by the organism relative to the nature, size and metabolic mechanism of the marker.…”

Transcription Expression and Clinical Significance of Dishevelled-3 mRNA andδ-Catenin mRNA in Pleural Effusions from Patients with Lung Cancer

“…A malignant pleural effusion may be the initial presentation of cancer in 10 to 50% of patients [2]. The cytologic diagnosis of pleural effusions can be difficult and usually detect only 50–60% of malignant pleural effusions [3], especially in specimens containing abundant reactive mesothelial cells. Distinguishing carcinoma cells from reactive mesothelial cells in such fluid are particularly challenging when there are relatively few carcinoma cells [4].…”

Management of occult malignant pleural disease firstly detected at thoracotomy for non-small cell lung cancer patients

“…CA125 is released from the pleura as well as the peritoneum and the positivity of this marker was recognized in the cytosolic materials of pleural effusion sediments and no significant difference was observed between benign and malignant diseases (13). Based on the previous reports (14,15), CA125 is not recommended as a useful diagnostic tool in MPE. In present study, serum CA125 level was significantly higher in the patients with occult MPD, although there was no significant difference by the multivariate analysis.…”