Open AccessMeasurement of four tumor marker antigens in the sera of pregnant women
Author(s) -
Cheli Carol D.,
Morris Deborah L.,
Neaman Irene E.,
Dai Jian,
Allard W. Jeffrey,
Yeung Kwok K.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of clinical laboratory analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1098-2825
pISSN - 0887-8013
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2825(1999)13:1<35::aid-jcla7>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - antigen , tumor marker , pregnancy , immunology , obstetrics , medicine , andrology , biology , genetics , cancer
We sought to determine the maternal serum levels of four tumor‐associated antigens during the three trimesters of pregnancy in healthy women. CEA, CA 228, CA 15‐3, and Her2/neu oncogene product p105 assay values were determined for 90 healthy pregnant women during the three trimesters of pregnancy at five participating evaluation sites. Results were compared to means and cut‐off values determined for healthy nonpregnant women. Differences in assay values in the 1st and 3rd trimester were analyzed for statistical significance (Student's t ‐test). CEA, CA 228 and CA 15‐3 assay values in general were found to be within the normal range. CA 15‐3 and Her2/neu p105 serum assay values were above the cut‐off (3.3% and 8.2%, respectively) and were significantly elevated in the 3rd trimester as compared to the 1st trimester of pregnancy ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). CEA and CA 228 may be of potential value in monitoring pregnant women with malignant disease. Normal elevations in 3rd trimester serum Her2/neu p105 and CA 15‐3 assay values should be considered when monitoring a pregnant patient with malignant disease. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 13:35–39, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.