Clinical evaluation of tumor markers in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with lung cancer

Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels of several tumor markers were measured in 71 patients with lung cancer, 36 patients with benign lung diseases and 100 healthy controls. The mean level and the positive rate of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in patients with lung cancer (10.9 ng/ml, 43.7%) were statistically higher than those in patients with benign lung diseases (1.6 ng/ml, 8.3%). The mean level and the positive rate of serum neuron-specific-enolase (NSE) in patients with lung cancer (14.8 ng/ml, 45.1%) were statistically higher than those in patients with benign lung diseases (6.5 ng/ml, 11.1%), and patients with small cell carcinoma showed the higher mean level and higher positive rate of serum NSE compared to patients with other histologic types of lung cancer. Serum levels of ferritin, β₂-microglobulin (β₂MG), immunosuppressive acidic protein and tissue polypeptide antigen showed poor diagnostic values. The mean levels of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid CEA, ferritin and β₂MG in patients with lung cancer were statistically higher than those in patients with benign lung disease and healthy controls. A combination of these markers might provide useful means in the diagnosis of lung cancer.