Cerebrospinal Fluid CYFRA 21-1 as a Diagnostic Indicator for Leptomeningeal Metastasis in Cancer Patients

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The early and accurate diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) has become important because of introduction of new therapeutic strategies for LM and increasing incidence of LM along with longer survival of cancer patients. We aimed to evaluate the role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) CYFRA 21-1 as a diagnostic indicator for LM in patients with cancer. METHODS: CSF CYFRA 21-1 level was analyzed using electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay. The difference in concentration of CSF CYFRA 21-1 between 91 patients with LM and 339 control groups (patients with other neurological disease or healthy controls) was investigated. The cut-off value of CSF CYFRA 21-1 as a diagnostic indicator for LM and its diagnostic performance were evaluated. RESULTS: The CSF CYFRA 21-1 was significantly higher in LM patients than control groups (p<0.001). A cut-off value of diagnosis for LM in patients with cancer was 1.59 ng/mL. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of CSF CYFRA 21-1 were 80.2%, 96.2%, 92.8%, 84.9%, 94.8% for diagnosis of LM. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that CSF CYFRA 21-1 can be an additional diagnostic indicator for cancer patients with LM.