Elevated serum CYFRA 21-1 level as a diagnostic marker for thymic carcinoma

Haruhiko Shiiya, Hideki Ujiie, Yasuhiro Hida, Tatsuya Kato, Kichizo Kaga, Satoru Wakasa, Eiki Kikuchi, Naofumi Shinagawa, Kazufumi Okada, Yoichi M. Ito, Yoshihiro Matsuno

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: No useful tumor markers have been identified for the diagnosis of thymic carcinomas. Serum cytokeratin 19 fragment, measured using the CYFRA 21-1 immunoassay, is used as a tumor marker for squamous cell carcinomas in various malignant tumors. Here, we evaluated the value of CYFRA 21-1 in diagnosing thymic carcinoma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 94 patients with pathological diagnoses of thymic carcinoma or thymoma (32 and 62 patients, respectively) who were referred to our departments between January 2000 and March 2019. Primary outcomes included tumor marker levels and their diagnostic accuracy. Results: Patients with thymic carcinoma were significantly more likely to be male (thymic carcinoma, 68.8%; thymoma, 40.3%; p = 0.02), have an advanced TNM stage (p < 0.01), and a significantly higher CYFRA 21-1 level than those with thymoma (thymic carcinoma: median = 4.2 ng/ml; interquartile range [IQR] = 2.1–6.1 ng/ml vs. thymoma: median = 1.2 ng/ml; IQR = 0.9–1.7 ng/ml; p < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic curves demonstrated that the area under the curve for CYFRA 21-1 to distinguish thymic carcinoma from thymoma was 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74–0.93; cutoff = 2.7 ng/ml; sensitivity = 68.8%; specificity = 95.2%). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that CYFRA 21-1 (odds ratio = 25.6; 95% CI: 4.6–141.6; p < 0.01) was an independent predictor for thymic carcinoma after adjusting for TNM stage. Conclusions: Serum CYFRA 21-1 level may help in diagnosing thymic carcinoma.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2933-2942
Number of pages10
JournalThoracic Cancer
Volume12
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11-2021
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Oncology
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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