Rationale: We have previously identified six serum tumor markers (TMs) (carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 15.3, squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen, cytokeratin-19 fragment, neuron-specific enolase, and pro-gastrin-releasing peptide) related to the presence of lung cancer (LC).
Objectives: To validate their individual performance in an independent cohort, and to explore if their combined assessment (≥1 abnormal TM value) is a more accurate marker for LC presence.
Methods: We determined these six TMs in 3,144 consecutive individuals referred to our institution by their primary care physician because of the clinical suspicion of LC.
Measurements and main results: LC was excluded in 1,316 individuals and confirmed in 1,828 patients (1,563 with non-small cell LC and 265 with small cell LC). This study validated the previously reported performance of each individual TM. We also showed that their combined assessment (≥1 abnormal TM) had a better sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value (88.5, 82, 83.7, and 87.3%, respectively) than each TM considered individually and that it increased the diagnostic performance (area under the curve) of a clinical model that included tumor size, age, and smoking status. In patients with radiographic nodules less than 3 cm, the negative predictive value of the TM panel was 71.8%, hence providing some support for a more conservative diagnostic approach. Finally we identified two TMs (neuron-specific enolase and pro-gastrin-releasing peptide) that differentiate the risk of non-small cell LC from that of small cell LC.
Conclusions: The combined assessment of a panel of six serum TMs is a more accurate marker for LC presence than these same TMs considered individually. The potential of these TMs in the diagnostic and screening settings deserves further research.
Keywords: CA15.3; CEA; CYFRA 21-1; NSE; ProGRP.