[Tumor markers--a diagnostic and prognostic test].

Blood levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein, ferritin, ACTH. triiodothyronine and thyroxin were measured by radioimmunoassay in 217 cases of lung, hepatopancreatoduodenal and colonic cancer, 61 patients with nontumor pathology of those sites and in 37 healthy controls. CEA proved the most reliable marker of lung and colonic cancer and tumor-related mechanical jaundice, its lowest concentration in 65-100% of cancer patients exceeding the highest levels observed in controls.