Measurement of serum CA 19-9 may be more valuable than CEA in prediction of recurrence in patients with gastric cancer.

In 35 patients with recurrent gastric cancer who had undergone curative gastrectomy, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA 19-9 (carbohydrate antigen) tumor marker levels were investigated. At least one tumor marker was elevated in 24 (68.6%) patients. The levels of serum CA 19-9 and CEA markers were increased in 20 (57.1%) and 12 (34.3%) patients, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant. However, it may be important in terms of clinical practice.