Showing papers by "Rafael Molina published in 1990"

SCC antigen measured in malignant and nonmalignant diseases.

Abstract: SCC antigen was measured in the serum of 214 patients with benign diseases and in 251 patients with various cancers. With 2.5 micrograms/L as the upper normal limit for serum, values were positive in 2.9% of 69 healthy subjects (I), 29.0% of 214 patients with benign pathologies (II), and 41% of 217 patients with active cancer (III). The highest values in group II were for patients in renal failure (64%) or with lung diseases (40%) or head-and-neck diseases (21.2%). Specificity of SCC increased (91.1%) when we excluded patients in renal failure or with creatinine values greater than 133 mumol/L. In group III, SCC values were abnormal in 57.7% of patients with squamous cell carcinoma, but in only 9.3% of those with other histological types (P less than 0.001). In squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, cervix, or head and neck, SCC values were related to tumor stage, values being highest in patients with metastases.

Tumor markers in patients with chronic renal failure.

Abstract: In order to evaluate the specificity of tumor markers in chronic renal failure, we have determined serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19.9 (CA 19.9), carbohydrate antigen 50 (CA 50), alphafetoprotein (AFP), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), prostatic specific antigen (PSA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carbohydrate antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125) in 30 patients with chronic renal failure and in 36 hemodialyzed patients without clinical evidence of neoplasia. CEA, CA 50, NSE and SCC frequently show increased serum levels, suggesting a renal metabolism, while others remain, generally, within the normal levels.

MCA in patients with breast cancer: correlation with CEA and CA15-3.

Abstract: MCA serum levels were determined in 27 healthy subjects, 136 with benign pathology (42 breast) and in 289 patients with cancer (247 active). The last group includes 223 patients with breast cancer (96 without metastases, 89 with metastases and 38 no-evidence of disease). CEA and CA15-3 serum levels were determined in all the patients with breast diseases. The mean levels of MCA were 4.7 + 2.4 U/ml in the control group, considering less than 11 U/ml as normal. MCA values were abnormal in 15.4% of patients with benign pathology, mainly in those with liver cirrhosis (8/20) and lung diseases (4/20). In the majority of these cases, the rise was only moderate, lower than 15 U/ml in 97.5% of patients. In malignant diseases, important increments were found in breast cancer (19.8% Mo, 77.5% M1) and ovarian cancer stages III-IV (44.4%). When we compared MCA serum levels with CA15-3 and CEA in breast pathology, a similar specificity was observed: 92.3%, 92.3% and 100% in cases with benign pathology and 92.1%, 94.7%, and 97.4% in NED patients, respectively. MCA and CA15-3 sensitivity was similar in breast cancer without metastases (19.8%) and lower for CEA (16.7%). In patients with breast cancer without metastases, we found a relation between positivity of these tumor markers and prognostic factors (tumor size, nodal involvement). The disease free interval in patients with locoregional breast cancer was shorter in cases with abnormal presurgical levels of some of the tumor markers, but only the difference from MCA was significant (p less than 0.02).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical usefulness of prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase in patients with prostatic cancer.

Abstract: Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) levels were measured in 70 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and in 70 patients with prostatic cancer. PSA was