ROLE OF CARBOHYDRATE ANTIGEN (CA19-9) AND CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA) AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN PANCREATIC CARCINOMA

Objective:To investigate the potential utility of pre-treatment carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) as prognostic indicators to assess prognosis in pancreatic carcinoma.

MaterialsandMethods:This retrospective observational study was carried out at the Department of General Surgery Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from July 2017 to June 2022. A total of 70 patients with the diagnosis of pancreaticcarcinoma were enrolled.Allpatientswerehistologicallydiagnosedwithpancreaticcarcinoma. ThelevelsofCA19-9andCEAwereevaluatedbeforetreatment.Allpatientsreceivedeitheranoperation,chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy (CRT), and patientswho only received supportive care, palliative surgery or othertreatmentswerenotincludedinthestudy.Patients with a history of other malignancies were excluded.

Results:A total of 70 patients were included in this study. Age ranged between 25-75 years, with a mean age of 50 years. Included patients were stratified into 2 groups (35 each) in regard to their preoperative CEA & CA 19-9 level. Group 1: (Normal serum level group, CEA level value <5ng/ml & CA19-9 <37 U/ml), Group 2: (Elevated level group ≥5ng/ml & ≥37 U/ml)There were 19(54.3%) males and 16(45.7%) females in group 1 with male to female ratio of 1.18:1 and 18(51.4%) male & 17(48.6%) females in group 2 with male to female ratio 1.05:1. CA 19-9 and CEA were evaluated at initial diagnosis,andthemedianlevelswere37U/mL(range,0.1-20000U/mL) and 3.4 ng/mL (range, 0.04-8566 ng/mL), respectively.

Conclusion:Patientswithelevated serum CEA levels at diagnosis demonstrated poor overall survival. Pre-treatment CEA level may predict the prognosis of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.