Serum cytokeratin 19 fragment in advanced lung cancer: could we eventually have a serum tumor marker?

Introduction: Lung cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies; however, no serum marker has been routinely recommended until now.

Methods: THIS IS A PROSPECTIVE CASE CONTROL STUDY INCLUDING TWO GROUPS OF PATIENTS: Group I-patients with advanced lung cancer and Group II-patients with benign lung disease as control. Serum cytokeratin 19 (CK19) fragment levels were measured at baseline by real-time polymerase chain reaction before first-line chemotherapy.