We examined four tumour markers [carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and cytokeratin 19 fragment (Cyfra21-1)] in 584 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
Results: After confirmation of a significant correlation between their serum levels and clinical stages, multivariate analysis showed that Cyfra21-1 and CA125 pointed to a negative prognosis; the respective hazard ratios were 2.585 (p = 0.0008) and 2.139 (p = 0.0020) in 121 inoperable adenocarcinoma patients and 2.329 (p = 0.0004) and 1.61 (p = 0.00370) in 205 inoperable NSCLC patients. Also, patients giving positive reactions for both Cyfra21-1 and CA125 had the worst prognoses, with hazard ratios of 6.546 (p < 0.0001) in inoperable adenocarcinoma patients and 4.275 (p < 0.0001) in inoperable NSCLC patients.
Conclusion: Cyfra21-1 or CA125 tend to imply a negative prognosis. Cyfra21-1 and CA125 together imply the worst prognosis.