Predictive Role of CYFRA21-1 and CEA for Subsequent Docetaxel in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical value of tumor marker levels for previously treated NSCLC patients.

Patients and methods: We retrospectively screened 113 previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with docetaxel monotherapy regarding the pretreatment serum level of cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

Results: The thirty-two patients with normal CYFRA21-1 levels and high CEA levels had a significantly higher response rate than the other 81 patients (25% vs. 8.6%, p=0.031). The former group showed statistically longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) than the latter group (median PFS, 180 vs. 59 days, p<0.001; median OS, 579 vs. 255 days, p=0.002). In multivariate analysis, tumor marker levels had a significant impact on PFS and OS.

Conclusion: Combination of the two tumor markers is a predictive and prognostic marker of docetaxel monotherapy for previously treated NSCLC patients.

Keywords: Cytokeratin 19 fragment; carcinoembryonic antigen; non-small cell lung cancer; subsequent docetaxel.