Identifying tumor markers-stratified subtypes (CA-125/CA19-9/carcinoembryonic antigen) in cervical adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Objective There is a lack of research evaluating the effect of tumor markers for prognosis in cervical adenocarcinoma. We aimed to develop and validate a preoperative tumor-marker-based model including clinicopathological factors to clarify the prognostic value of endocervical adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of 572 patients with cervical adenocarcinoma who were staged at the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) IA–IIA were reviewed retrospectively. Preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA)-125 and CA19-9 levels were measured. The survival and recurrence patterns were analyzed according to the tumor-marker-related stratification. The predictive values of biomarkers and clinical variables were assessed with Cox regression and competing risk models. Results Patients with elevated preoperative tumor markers had evidently poor overall survival and recurrence-free survival. The triple-elevated tumor marker (TETM) subgroup had the worst overall survival and progression-free survival than the triple-negative tumor marker (TNTM) subgroup and the single-elevated tumor marker (SETM) subgroup. The most important predictors for overall survival were elevated tumor markers, FIGO-stage, tumor differentiation, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and lymph nodes metastasis. The most important predictors for recurrence-free survival were elevated tumor markers, FIGO-stage, tumor differentiation, LVSI and deep stromal invasion. Stratified analysis showed that elevated CA-125 and CA19-9 were significantly associated with postoperative distant metastasis. A decision curve analysis confirmed that a combination of tumor markers as predictors significantly outperformed the other common predictors used (FIGO-stage, intermediate and high-risk factors, tumor differentiation, lymph nodes). Conclusions Elevated preoperative serum CEA, CA-125, and CA19-9 levels exhibited poor overall survival and recurrence-free survival in cervical adenocarcinoma patients. Combined preoperative serum CA-125 and CA19-9 independently predicted distant metastasis in patients with endocervical adenocarcinoma.