Journal Article

Prognostic value of CA 19-9, CEA, CRP, LDH and bilirubin levels in locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer: results from a multicenter, pooled analysis of patients receiving palliative chemotherapy

Haas, Michael, Modest, Dominik P., Holdenrieder, Stefan, Schulz, Christoph, Laubender, Rüdiger P., Bruns, Christiane J., Kullmann, Frank, Boeck, Stefan, Heinemann, Volker, Klose, Christina

2013

Overview

Purpose CA 19-9 is the only established tumor marker in pancreatic cancer (PC); the prognostic role of other serum markers like CEA, CRP, LDH or bilirubin has not yet been defined. Methods We pooled pre-treatment data on CA 19-9, CEA, CRP, LDH and bilirubin levels from two German multicenter randomized phase II trials together with prospective patient data from one high-volume German Cancer Center. Marker levels were assessed locally before the start of palliative first-line therapy for advanced PC and serially during treatment (for CA 19-9 only). Clinical and biomarker data (overall 12 variables) were correlated with the efficacy endpoints time-to-progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) by using uni- and multivariate Cox models. Results Data from 291 patients were included in this pooled analysis; 253 patients (87 %) received treatment within prospective clinical trials. Median TTP in the study cohort was 5.1 months and median OS 9.0 months. In univariate analysis, pre-treatment CA 19-9 (HR 1.55), LDH (HR 2.04) and CEA (HR 1.89) levels were significantly associated with TTP. Regarding OS, baseline CA 19-9 (HR 1.46), LDH (HR 2.07), CRP (HR 1.69) and bilirubin (HR 1.62) were significant prognostic factors. Within multivariate analyses, pre-treatment log [CA 19-9] (as continuous variable for TTP) and log [bilirubin] as well as log [CRP] (for OS) had an independent prognostic value. A CA 19-9 decline of ≥25 % during the first two chemotherapy cycles was predictive for TTP and OS, independent of the applied CA 19-9 assay. Conclusion Baseline CA 19-9 and CA 19-9 kinetics during first-line chemotherapy are prognostic in advanced PC. Besides that finding other serum markers like CRP, LDH and bilirubin can also provide prognostic information on TTP and OS.

• Publisher: Springer-Verlag,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adenocarcinoma - drug therapy / Adenocarcinoma - metabolism / Adenocarcinoma - mortality / Adenocarcinoma - secondary / Adult / Aged / Antineoplastic agents / Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use / Bilirubin / Bilirubin - metabolism / Biological and medical sciences / Biomarkers / Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism / C-Reactive Protein - metabolism / CA-19-9 Antigen - metabolism / Cancer Research / Carcinoembryonic Antigen - metabolism / Carcinoma, Acinar Cell - drug therapy / Carcinoma, Acinar Cell - metabolism / Carcinoma, Acinar Cell - mortality / Carcinoma, Acinar Cell - secondary / Chemotherapy / Clinical trials / Female / Follow-Up Studies / Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen / Hematology / Humans / Internal Medicine / L-Lactate Dehydrogenase - metabolism / Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas / Male / Medical prognosis / Medical sciences / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Metastases / Middle Aged / Multiple tumors. Solid tumors. Tumors in childhood (general aspects) / Neoplasm Grading / Oncology / Original Paper / Palliation / Palliative Care / Pancreatic cancer / Pancreatic Neoplasms - drug therapy / Pancreatic Neoplasms - metabolism / Pancreatic Neoplasms - mortality / Pancreatic Neoplasms - pathology / Patients / Pharmacology. Drug treatments / Prognosis / Prospective Studies / Retrospective Studies / Survival Rate / Tumor markers / Tumors