Change of serum tumor markers and short-term efficacy after radiotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients

Objective: To investigate the change of the serum levels of CEA, CYFAR21-1, SCC, CA125 in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients before and after radiotherapy retrospectively and to explore the relationship between the change of serum tumor markers and the short-term efficacy of radiotherapy. Methods: The serum levels of CEA, CYFAR21-1, SCC, CA125 in 205 cases with advanced non-small cell lung cancer were detected (by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay method) before and after radiotherapy, and the short-term efficacy of radiotherapy was assessed (RECIST 1.1 edition) at the same time. The changes in tumor markers and the short-term efficacy were analyzed. Results: Totally 113 patients achieved response of short-term efficacy after radiotherapy, and the effective rate of the short-term efficacy was 55.1%. Among these 113 patients, the serum levels of tumor markers decreased significantly after radiotherapy (t = 3.224, 2.896, 3.137, 3.219, P < 0.05). The serum levels of tumor markers in patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ decreased after radiotherapy (t = 2.484, 2.445, 2.148, 2.109, P < 0.05; t = 2.072, 2.857, 2.277, 2.436, P < 0.05). Among 92 patients who did not achieve response of short-term efficacy, the serum level of tumor markers increased significantly after radiotherapy (t = 2.224, 2.005, 2.261, 2.545, P < 0.05). For the patient who achieved response of radiotherapy with tumor markers decreased,the short-term efficacy was significantly better than the group of which tumor maker increased (χ² = 80.001, P < 0.01). Conclusions: The serum levels of CEA, CYFAR21-1, SCC, CA125 can be used for assessment of short-term efficacy after radiotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients. (authors)