Predictive role of CEA and CYFRA 21-1 in patients with advanced-stage NSCLC treated with erlotinib

Anticancer Res. 2014 Jun;34(6):3205-10.

Abstract

Background: Tumor biomarkers are used for predicting therapy effect and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We focused on their potential role in prediction of the efficacy of erlotinib.

Patients and methods: In a total of 144 patients with advanced-stage (IIIB or IV) NSCLC treated with erlotinib, pre-treatment levels of soluble carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratin markers in serum were measured.

Results: The median progression-free and overall survival for patients with a high level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was 1.9 and 8.6 vs. 2.9 and 16.1 months for patients with low CEA (p=0.046 and p=0.116). The respective medians for patients with a high level of cytokeratin-19 fragment were 1.9 and 6.1 vs. 3.4 and 23.8 months for patients with the low cytokeratin-19 fragment (p<0.001 and p<0.001).

Conclusion: High pre-treatment serum levels of one or both biomarkers are associated with poor outcome of patients with NSCLC treated with erlotinib.

Keywords: CEA; CYFRA 21-1; EGFR-TKI; NSCLC; Tumor marker; erlotinib; prediction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / blood*
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / blood*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / blood*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Keratin-19 / blood*
  • Lung Neoplasms / blood*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Quinazolines / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • Keratin-19
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Quinazolines
  • antigen CYFRA21.1
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors