RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cancer antigen CA72-4 is a tumor marker found to be elevated in a variety of human adenocarcinomas. Using the DRG TM-CA72-4, we quantified the elevation of CA72-4 compared to current United States Food And Drug Administration-approved tumor markers in various cancer types. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, single-center study enrolling 96 patients between March 2013 and August 2016 with different locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic cancer known to express CA72-4. Quantification of CA72-4 was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions using the DRG TM-CA72-4 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and the positivity rates were calculated. RESULTS: CA72-4 expression varied with tumoral site of origin, with the highest positivity rates found in pancreatic and ovarian malignancies. Correlation with clinical activity was also noted in some patients. CONCLUSION: CA72-4 may have a potential role as an adjunct to conventional biomarkers in disease monitoring of pancreatic, ovarian and colorectal carcinomas.