Cholestasis is the Main Determinant of Abnormal CA 19–9 Levels in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Signal enhancement ratio of CE-MRI: a potential biomarker of survival after hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in biliary tract cancers

Background

The association of contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) and the overall survival (OS) of biliary tract cancers (BTC) is ambiguous. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the value of signal enhancement ratio (SER) and its early change in CE-MRI as biomarkers of survival after hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in BTC.

Results

One hundred and two BTC patients treated via HAIC with 3cir-OFF regimen between January 2011 and June 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective study. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were 9.8 months [range 1.5–83.3 months, 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.789–11.811] and 14.2 months (range 1.8–83.3 months, 95% CI: 11.106–17.294), respectively. The cutoff value of SER before HAIC (SER0) was 1.04, and both median PFS and OS in the SER0 ≥ 1.04 group were longer than in the SER0 < 1.04 group (median PFS: 10.5 vs. 8.5 months, p = 0.027; median OS: 23.9 vs. 12.3 months, p < 0.001). The median OS in the ΔSER > 0 group was longer than in the ΔSER < 0 group (17.3 versus 12.8 months, p = 0.029 (ΔSER means the change of SER after two cycles of HAIC). Multivariate analysis showed SER0 (p = 0.029) and HAIC treatment cycle (p = 0.002) were independent predictors of longer survival.

Conclusions

SER in CE-MRI before HAIC (SER0) is a potential biomarker for the prediction of survival after HAIC in advanced BTC.

Improving Diagnostic Yield in Indeterminate Biliary Strictures

Indeterminate biliary strictures are defined as a narrowing of the bile duct that cannot be differentiated as malignant or benign after performing cross-sectional imaging and an ERCP. Identifying the etiology of a bile duct stricture is the single most important step in determining whether a complex and potentially morbid surgical resection is warranted. Due to this diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma, new technologies, laboratory tests, and procedures are emerging to solve this problem.

Biomarkers in Hepatobiliary Cancers: What is Useful in Clinical Practice?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and biliary tract cancers (BTC) exhibit a poor prognosis with 5-year overall survival rates around 15%, all stages combined. Most of these primary liver malignancies are metastatic at diagnostic, with only limited therapeutic options, relying mainly on systemic therapies. Treatment modalities are different yet partially overlapping between HCC and BTC. The complex molecular profile of BTC yields to several actionable therapeutic targets, contrary to HCC that remains the field of antiangiogenic drugs in non-molecularly selected patients. Immunotherapy is now validated in the first line in HCC in combination with bevacizumab, while clinical activity of single agent immunotherapy appears limited to a subset of patients in BTC, still poorly characterized, and combinations are currently under investigation. In this review, we provide a critical evaluation and grading of clinical relevance on (i) the main prognostic biomarkers in HCC and BTC, (ii) the main theragnostic biomarkers in both tumors, and lastly (iii) what is recommended in clinical practice.

Regulation of uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A expression by miRNA-214-5p and miRNA-486-3p

Aim: This study aimed to identify novel miRNAs (miRs) as regulators of UGT1A gene expression and to evaluate them as potential risk factors for the development of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. Materials & methods: miRNA target sites in UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A (UGT1A) 3'-UTR were predicted and confirmed by luciferase assays, quantitative real-time PCR and western blot using HEK293, HepG2 and Huh7 cells. UGT1A and miRNA expression were analyzed in cirrhotic patients and a mouse model of alcoholic liver fibrosis. Results: miR-214-5p and miR-486-3p overexpression reduced UGT1A mRNA, protein levels and enzyme activity in HepG2 and Huh7 cells. miR-486-3p was upregulated in cirrhotic patients and fibrotic mice livers, whereas UGT1A mRNA levels were reduced. Conclusion: In conclusion, we identified two novel miRNAs capable to repress UGT1A expression in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, miR-486-3p may represent a potential risk factor for the development or progression of liver fibrosis/cirrhosis by means of a reduced UGT1A-mediated detoxification activity.

High Carbohydrate 19-9 Antigen Serum Levels in Patients with Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer and Primary Occult Cancer

BACKGROUND

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), despite having a favourable prognosis, present an increased risk of occult malignancies. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the usefulness of the mucinous marker carbohydrate 19-9 antigen (CA 19-9) in the diagnosis of occult cancers. (1) Patients and Methods: This is a case control study in which 480 patients with NMSC and 480 matched control subjects with dermatitis were enrolled; 208 patients with NMSC showed upper-normal CA 19-9 values, and 272 showed under-normal CA 19-9 values. (2) Results: The 208 patients positive for CA 19-9 included 87 with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and 121 with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The 272 patients negative for CA 19-9 included 107 with BCC and 165 with SCC. For the SCC patients, CA 19-9 serum levels were significant in 121 of the patients (positive), 66 of which were affected by cancer; CA 19-9 was within the normal range in 165 patients, of which 30 were diagnosed with cancer. In the SCC patients, the CA 19-9 sensitivity was 68%, the specificity was 70%, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 54% (95%) and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 81%. In the BCC patients, the CA 19-9 sensitivity was 70%, the specificity was 66%, the PPV was 48% and the NPV was 83%. In the dermatitis patients (controls), we observed 121 patients that were CA 19-9 positive, with 15 malignancies, and 359 CA 19-9-negative patients, with three malignancies. (3) Conclusions: To confirm the association between CA 19-9 and an elevated risk of malignancies in NMSC, prospective cohort studies should be performed.

Heavy black tea consumption and elevated CA 19-9 and CA 125 levels. A case report on a patient with ovarian endometriotic cysts

In this case report, we present a case of false positive CA 19-9 and CA 125 levels in a patient with suspected endometriotic cysts. The patient is a 34-year-old nulliparous woman with heavy black tea consumption and elevated CA 19-9 and CA 125 levels. After discontinuation of black tea intake and careful exploration of other possible factors, CA 19-9 and CA 125 levels dropped markedly. As a conclusion, heavy black tea consumption can lead to false positive results of elevated CA 19-9 and CA 125 levels.

Biliary strictures: diagnostic considerations and approach

Biliary strictures present a diagnostic challenge, especially when no etiology can be ascertained after laboratory evaluation, abdominal imaging and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) sampling. These strictures were traditionally classified as indeterminate strictures, although with advances in endoscopic techniques and better understanding of hepato-biliary pathology, more are being correctly diagnosed. The implications of missing a malignancy in patients with biliary strictures—and hence delaying surgery—are grave but a significant number of patients (up to 20%) undergoing surgery for suspected biliary malignancy can have benign pathology. The diagnostic approach to these patients involves detailed history and physical examination and depends on the presence or absence of jaundice, level of obstruction, and presence or absence of a mass lesion. While abdominal imaging helps to find the level of obstruction and provides a ‘road map' for further endoscopic investigations, tissue diagnosis is usually needed to make decisions on management. Initially ERCP was the only modality to investigate these strictures but now, with the development of endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration and the availability of newer techniques such as intraductal ultrasound, single-operator cholangioscopy and confocal laser endomicroscopy, the diagnostic approach to biliary strictures has changed significantly. In this review, we will focus on the decision-making process for patients with biliary strictures and discuss the key decision points that should dictate further diagnostic investigations at each step.

Carbohydrate 19.9 antigen serum levels in liver disease

BACKGROUND

Carbohydrate 19.9 antigen (CA19.9) has been used in the diagnosis and followup of gastrointestinal tumours. The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was the evaluation of CA19.9 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis hepatitis C virus and B virus correlated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

180 patients were enrolled, 116 with HCV-related chronic liver disease (48% chronic hepatitis, 52% cirrhosis) and 64 with HBV-related chronic liver disease (86% chronic hepatitis, 14% cirrhosis). Patients with high levels of CA19.9 underwent abdominal ecography, gastroendoscopy, colonoscopy, and abdominal CT scan.

RESULTS

51.7% of patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and 48.4% of those with HBV-related chronic liver disease presented high levels of CA19.9. None was affected by pancreatic or intestinal neoplasia, cholestatic jaundice, or other diseases potentially able to induce Ca19.9 elevations. CA19.9 levels were elevated in 43.3% of HCV chronic hepatitis, in 56.3% of HCV cirrhosis, in 45.1% of HBV chronic hepatitis, and in 58% of HBV cirrhosis.

CONCLUSIONS

CA19.9 commonly increases in the serum of patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Elevation of CA 19.9 is not specific for neoplastic disease and is related to the severity of fibrosis and to the viral aetiology of hepatitis.

Egy-score predicts severe hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in Egyptians with chronic liver diseases: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Non-invasive methods for assessment of hepatic fibrosis are increasingly needed. Recent studies showed that combined elevation of tumor markers CA 19-9 and CA 125 is predictive of severe hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis with high specificity.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed at developing a new panel of surrogate biomarkers for prediction of the stage of hepatic fibrosis by combining tumor markers with other known biomarkers of hepatic fibrosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 92 patients with different types of chronic liver diseases (chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C and autoimmune hepatitis), were prospectively enrolled in our cohort. They were subjected to: ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, total bilirubin, INR, total cholesterol, albumin, platelet count, cancer antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), haptoglobin, alpha-2-macroglobulin, apolipoprotein A1, abdominal ultrasound, liver biopsy and histological staging of hepatic fibrosis using the METAVIR system.

RESULTS

Combined elevation of CA 19-9 and CA 125 with a summated value > 37 U/mL is predictive of severe hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3-F4 METAVIR) with a probability of 77.6%. Multivariate analysis showed that the most relevant collection of biomarkers for prediction of stage of hepatic fibrosis is: CA 19-9, age, alpha-2- macroglobulin, total bilirubin, platelet count & albumin. We developed a new score, named the "Egy-Score", using a regression equation composed of this panel of biomarkers. Egy-Score could differentiate no or early fibrosis (stage F0-F2 METAVIR) from severe fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3-F4 METAVIR) with 83.7% accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-invasive assessment of hepatic fibrosis could be done using the Egy-Score. Egy-Score could differentiate no or early fibrosis (stage F0-F2 METAVIR) from severe fibrosis or cirrhosis (stage F3 - F4 METAVIR) with 83.7% accuracy.

Y-box protein-1/p18 fragment identifies malignancies in patients with chronic liver disease

Background

Immunohistochemical detection of cold shock proteins is predictive for deleterious outcome in various malignant diseases. We recently described active secretion of a family member, denoted Y-box (YB) protein-1. We tested the clinical and diagnostic value of YB-1 protein fragment p18 (YB-1/p18) detection in blood for malignant diseases.

Methods

We used a novel monoclonal anti-YB-1 antibody to detect YB-1/p18 by immunoblotting in plasma samples of healthy volunteers (n = 33), patients with non-cancerous, mostly inflammatory diseases (n = 60), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n = 25) and advanced solid tumors (n = 20). YB-1/p18 was then tested in 111 patients with chronic liver diseases, alongside established tumor markers and various diagnostic measures, during evaluation for potential liver transplantation.

Results

We developed a novel immunoblot to detect the 18 kD fragment of secreted YB-1 in human plasma (YB-1/p18) that contains the cold-shock domains (CSD) 1-3 of the full-length protein. YB-1/p18 was detected in 11/25 HCC and 16/20 advanced carcinomas compared to 0/33 healthy volunteers and 10/60 patients with non-cancerous diseases. In 111 patients with chronic liver disease, YB-1/p18 was detected in 20 samples. Its occurrence was not associated with advanced Child stages of liver cirrhosis or liver function. In this cohort, YB-1/p18 was not a good marker for HCC, but proved most powerful in detecting malignancies other than HCC (60% positive) with a lower rate of false-positive results compared to established tumor markers. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was most sensitive in detecting HCC, but simultaneous assessment of AFP, CA19-9 and YB-1/p18 improved overall identification of HCC patients.

Conclusions

Plasma YB-1/p18 can identify patients with malignancies, independent of acute inflammation, renal impairment or liver dysfunction. The detection of YB-1/p18 in human plasma may have potential as a tumor marker for screening of high-risk populations, e.g. before organ transplantation, and should therefore be evaluated in larger prospective studies.

Persistent elevation of serum CA 19-9 with no evidence of malignant disease

BACKGROUND

Serum CA 19-9 is the mainstay marker for the diagnosis of biliopancreatic malignancies, though a persistent elevation can also be observed in various benign diseases.

AIMS

In this study, a marked increase of serum CA 19-9 was seen in 10 patients who had no evidence of malignant disease. The possible causes of this finding are discussed.

PATIENTS

Nine women and one man were studied, whose admitting diagnoses were as follows: pulmonary fibrosis in two, diabetes in two, non-ulcer dyspepsia in two, obesity in one, acute diarrhoea in one, colon diverticula in one and gastric ulcer in one.

METHODS

Routine blood tests, tumour marker determinations, imaging studies and endoscopy were carried out at admission.

RESULTS

Serum CA 19-9 levels ranged from 112 to 1338 IU/ml (mean 517 IU/ml). Abdominal ultrasonography, CT-scan, upper gastrointestinal X-ray series and gastrointestinal endoscopies were negative for malignancy. During the follow-up period (range 2-7 years) serum CA 19-9 values were persistently elevated in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that persistent and significant elevation of serum CA 19-9 can be found in non-malignant and non-cholestatic disease.

Increased levels of CA 125 and CA 19.9 serum tumour markers following cyclic combined hormone replacement therapy

We report a case of increase in serum tumour markers CA 125 and CA 19.9 induced by cyclic combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A 52-year-old Caucasian post-menopausal woman presented with a slight enlargement of the right ovary and uterine fibromyomatosis. She was taking HRT for 4 years in a cyclic combined regimen of 2 mg oestradiol with 1 mg cyproterone acetate. The serum tumour markers occasionally measured were in normal range except CA 19.9 (997 U/mL; normal values 0.0-37) and CA 125 (85 U/mL; normal values 0.0-35). However, on one occasion, the CA 19.9 and CA 125 were high and then showed persistently high values (1005 and 81.3 U/mL, respectively). Radiodiagnostic investigations excluded any malignancies and a hysteroscopy showed endometrial thickening. After discontinuation of HRT, CA 125 levels returned to normal after 1 month, whereas CA 19.9 took 6 months to do so. Four months after the beginning subsequent therapy with over-the-counter phyto-oestrogens a new serum test showed an increase in CA 19.9 but CA 125 remained within the normal range. Phyto-oestrogen therapy was then interrupted and 1 month later CA 19.9 returned to normal. In this case, cyclic HRT was the probable cause of CA 19.9 and CA 125 increase. Positive dechallenge and subsequent CA 19.9 increase after phyto-oestrogen intake seem to confirm the role of oestrogens as the cause of the endometrial thickening through hormonal imbalance. Increased CA 19.9 and CA 125 levels in benign gynaecological conditions may be a source of misdiagnosis of malignant disease.

Different roles of tumor marker monitoring after curative resections of gastric and colorectal cancers

We previously demonstrated that false-positive findings for tumor markers are frequently observed, and that the sensitivity of marker monitoring for early detection of the recurrence is low after curative resection of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether such characters are specific to gastric cancer. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen and/or carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were periodically assessed in 258 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer (n = 161) or curative resection for colorectal cancer (n = 97). The frequency of false-positive findings for the tumor markers, the sensitivity of the marker monitoring for detection of the recurrence, and the characteristics of such cases were compared between these two cancer groups. During the median follow-up period of 30 months, recurrence developed in 14% of gastric cancer and 23% of colorectal cancer patients. A false positive with the tumor marker was frequently observed in patients after gastrectomy compared with after colorectal surgery. The sensitivity of the marker monitoring regarding early detection of recurrence was higher in patients with colorectal cancer than those with gastric cancer, especially in cases of advanced stage. As a result, the accuracy of marker monitoring for the detection of recurrence was higher in patients after the resection of colorectal cancer than that of gastric cancer. Surgeons and oncologists should thus be aware that the role of the tumor marker monitoring after a curative operation differs between patients with gastric and colorectal cancers.

False-positive findings for tumor markers after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer

The objective of this study was to assess the frequency and characteristics of false-positive results for tumor markers after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Carcinoembryonic antigen and/or carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were periodically assessed for 168 patients who underwent curative gastrectomy. Cancer recurrence was observed for 17 (10.1%) patients and 151 (89.9%) were disease-free during the mean follow-up period of 23.1 months after the operation. The frequency of false-positive findings for tumor markers after gastrectomy was 14.3% (24/168) for all followed-up patients. Three different patterns of marker elevation were observed in the false-positive group. A false-positive finding for these markers was observed for patients with early-stage cancer and for those with chronic benign diseases, for example bronchitis, liver dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, and renal dysfunction. For most patients with false-positive findings for a marker a spontaneous decrease in the tumor marker was observed 1-2 months after the marker was first observed at a high level after the operation. Surgeons and oncologists should therefore keep in mind the high frequency of false-positive findings for tumor markers after curative gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

The combined elevation of tumor markers CA 19-9 and CA 125 in liver disease patients is highly specific for severe liver fibrosis

Increased tumor markers in patients with liver cirrhosis are often considered to be unspecific. The use of this unspecific elevation to discriminate minimal fibrosis from severe fibrosis has never been explored. We aimed to answer the question, Do tumor markers predict severe liver fibrosis? The study group consisted of 125 patients with alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C with available liver biopsy. Tumor markers CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and CA 125 were determined using routine laboratory methods and correlated with the extent of liver fibrosis. Fibrosis stages 1 and 2 were classified as minimal fibrosis; stages 3 and 4, as severe fibrosis. Tumor markers CA 19-9, CA 125, and CA 15-3 increased with stage of fibrosis. For separating patients with mild fibrosis (F1+F2) from patients with severe fibrosis (F3+F4), CA 19-9 had a sensitivity of 70.5% and a specificity of 88.6, CA 125 had 38.1% and 89.7%, and CA 15-3 had 19.0% and 93.0%, respectively. Logistic regression of a combined score of CA19-9 and CA 125 values revealed that an increase of 1 point of the CA 19-9/CA125 score resulted in a 1.6 times increase in likelihood of the presence of severe fibrosis. The CA 19-9/CA 125 score achieved a similar specificity (97.1% vs. 100%) but a higher sensitivity (42.9% vs. 33.3%) than the widely used cirrhosis discriminant score of Bonacini. A specificity (98.5%) similar to that of the CA 19-9/CA 125 score was reached by the easier determination of the combined elevation of CA 19-9 and CA 125, which had the best positive predictive value, 92.9%. The excellent predictive ability of the combined elevation of CA 19-9 and CA 125 for severe liver fibrosis (F3+F4) was confirmed in an independent group of patients with liver disease. The combined elevation of CA 19-9 and CA 125 is useful for identifying patients with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis with high specificity. Patients without a combined elevation of CA 19-9 and CA 125 still require histological examination to identify severe fibrosis or cirrhosis.

Abdominal pain in a patient with osteosarcoma

Abdominal pain often occurs in patients receiving chemotherapy. The authors describe a patient with osteosarcoma who developed severe right-sided abdominal discomfort several days after being admitted for fever, neutropenia, and mucositis. Unexpectedly, the patient's pain was not therapy-related, but rather was caused by a midline pelvic mass.

The value of serum CA 19-9 in predicting cholangiocarcinomas in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

CA 19-9 has been used with questionable accuracy to aid diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma complicating primary sclerosing cholangitis. We aimed to characterize the test properties of CA 19-9 and of a change in CA 19-9 over time in predicting cholangiocarcinoma. Charts of 208 patients were reviewed. Fourteen patients had cholangiocarcinoma. Median CA 19-9 was higher with cholangiocarcinoma (15 vs. 290 U/ml, p < 0.0001). A cutoff of 129 U/ml provided: sensitivity 78.6%, specificity 98.5%, adjusted positive predictive value 56.6% and negative predictive value 99.4%. The median change over time was 664 U/ml in cholangiocarcinoma compared to 6.7 U/ml in primary sclerosing cholangitis alone (p < 0.0001). A cutoff of 63.2 U/ml for change in CA 19-9 provided: sensitivity 90%, specificity 98% and positive predictive value 42%. Only 2 patients with cholangiocarcinoma were the candidates for curative therapy. In conclusion, the positive predictive value of an elevated CA 19-9 was 56.6%; only advanced cases were detected by this method.

Carbohydrate 19-9 antigen is not a marker of liver disease in patients with cystic fibrosis

Serum concentration of carbohydrate 19-9 antigen (CA 19-9), a sensitive marker of pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, increases in a variety of liver diseases due to higher production and release by bile duct cells. Biliary epithelial cells are primarily affected in liver disease associated with cystic fibrosis (CF), which develops in up to 30% of CF patients. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of serum CA 19-9 concentration as a test of liver involvement in CF. Serum concentration of CA 19-9, liver enzymes, bile acids, and total amylase was determined in 107 CF patients (49 with and 58 without liver disease) and 56 healthy subjects. Serum CA 19-9 concentration was significantly higher in CF patients (67 U/ml, 95% CI 53.5-80.5 U/ml) than in controls (11.8 U/ml, 95% CI 2.5-44 U/ml; p < 0.001) and in CF patients with liver disease (92.3 U/ml, 95% CI 75-109.5 U/ml) compared to CF patients without liver disease (46.6 U/ml, 95% CI 27.8-65.4 U/ml; p < 0.001). In CF patients, stepwise logistic regression analysis identified alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, amylase, and CA 19-9 as the most useful predictors of liver disease (p < 0.0001). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase and CA 19-9 as the best tests for identification of liver disease in CF patients; at a CA 19-9 cut-off arbitrarily fixed at 73 U/ml, positive and negative predictive value was 70% and 78%, respectively (sensitivity 57%, specificity 81%). To increase sensitivity to 94%, the cut-off had to be fixed at 31 U/ml, which corresponds to a specificity of only 36.2% (predictive value 33%). Our study indicates that measurement of the serum CA 19-9 concentration alone cannot be proposed as a reliable test of early hepatic involvement in CF.