Prediction of survival and recurrence by serum and cytosolic levels of CEA, CA125 and SCC antigens in resectable non-small-cell lung cancer

Risk of death and risk of recurrence in 108 potentially curable non-small-cell lung cancer patients were analysed with respect to TNM stage, histological type and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA125 antigen and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) levels in serum and cytosol. CA125 and CEA levels were closely related to outcome figures. Multivariate analyses indicated that TNM stage and histological type had the best predictive power. but serum and cytosolic CA125 and serum CEA contained additional, independent prognostic information. Predictive information drawn from serum and cytosolic levels proved mutually complementary. We conclude that CA125 and CEA complement TNM classification and histological type for the purpose of quantifying risk of death or recurrence.