Measurement of pancreatic oncofetal antigen by immunoradiometric assay method

A commercially available immunoradiometric assay kit for measuring pancreatic oncofetal antigen (POA) in the serum was fundamentally and clinically evaluated. Fundamental results for reproducibility, recovery, and dilution of the kit were satisfactory enough to use it in the clinical setting. Serum levels of POA ranged between 3.4 U/ml and 23.2 U/ml in 137 normal subjects. Eighteen U/ml, observed in 95 % of the subjects, was defined as the cutoff level of POA. Positive rate of POA was 47 % (9/19) for esophageal cancer, 32 % (10/31) for lung cancer, 39 % (3/13) for breast cancer, 27 % (10/37) for gastric cancer, 64 % (35/55) for hepatocellular carcinoma, 45 % (9/20) for biliary cancer, 75 % (12/16) for pancreatic cancer, 41 % (12/29) for colorectal cancer, 14 % (4/28) for cervical cancer, and 35 % (6/17) for ovarian cancer. It was high as well for benign diseases, such as liver cirrhosis, duodenal ulcer, and chronic renal failure. The sole measurement of POA failed to differentiate benign from malignant diseases. In cases of pancreatic cancer, higher serum POA levels and increased positive rate of POA were associated with clinical progression. (Namekawa, K.)