Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of the tumor markers CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 72-4 in gastric cancer.

Pre-surgery serum levels of CA 72-4, CEA and CA 19-9 were quantified by the enzyme immunoassay method in 167 patients with histological diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma and in 92 patients with an endoscopic diagnosis of benign gastric pathology. CA 72-4 showed a better correlation between its serum levels and the different clinical stages of the disease than CEA and CA 19-9. At the individual study of stages I-II, CA 72-4 proved positive in 36.

Significance of CA 72-4 in colorectal carcinoma. Comparison with CEA and CA 19-9.

In order to evaluate the usefulness of CA 72-4 tumour-associated antigen assay in colorectal carcinoma, we have studied 70 patients with benign colorectal diseases and 127 patients with colorectal cancer at different stages. The results were compared with those obtained by CEA and CA 19-9. No significant differences were found in any of the stages according to Dukes' classification when comparing stages A, B and C.

[Perioperative blood transfusion and prognosis in colorectal cancer. Analysis of a series].

The relationship between survival after surgical resection of colorectal carcinoma, and perioperative blood transfusion was studied retrospectively. "Curative" surgery was performed in 164 cases of colorectal cancer--stages B and C--, 72 of them received red-cell concentrates perioperatively. Multiple regression analysis did not show any deleterious effect of blood transfusion on the survival of the surgically treated patients (P = 0.