Abstract:

Background: Although tumor markers have been used as biomarkers for monitoring response to therapy and detecting early relapse in malignancies, it is well known that most tumor marker increases are not specific enough to be used for diagnosis of cancer. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the serum concentrations of a -fetoprotein (AFP), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen (CA) 19-9, CA 125, CA 15-3 and IgE in asthma patients. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five newly diagnosed asthmatic patients and 14 healthy subjects were included into the study. Blood samples were drawn from antecubital vein of asthma patients and control subjects. Serum AFP, CEA, CA 125, CA 15-3 and CA 19-9 levels were determined by chemiluminescent and IgE levels by electrochemiluminescent immunometric method on automatic hormone analyzers. Results: Serum levels of AFP, CEA, CA 19-9, CA 125, and CA 15-3 of asthma patients were not significantly different when compared with the control group. In asthma patients, there was a significant negative correlation between serum IgE and CA 125 (r = -0.401; p = 0.017) and a positive correlation between CA 125 and CA 15-3 (r = 0.368; p = 0.029). Conclusions: We concluded that in asthma patients' sera, AFP, CEA, CA 125, CA 19-9 and CA 15-3 levels were not different from control subjects. Elevation in any of these tumor markers in asthma patients should be a sign for clinicians to evaluate patients for additional diseases.

Keywords: