Tumor markers in bronchogenic carcinoma. An evaluation of carcinoembryonic antigen, tissue polypeptide antigen, placental alkaline phosphatase and pseudouridine.

From 62 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in serum and pseudouridine, a modified nucleoside, were analysed in urine. About 60 per cent of the patients had squamous cell carcinoma, and 20 per cent had small cell carcinoma. The patients were allocated into 3 different clinical stages based upon tumor burden, and the markers were analysed before treatment and thereafter. TPA and PLAP had limited value as biologic markers. For both CEA and pseudouridine the frequency of elevated values increased parallel to clinical stage. Elevated levels of these 2 markers were also correlated to shorter survival.