1988 Volume 79 Issue 1 Pages 28-34
Serum Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA), ferritin and Immunosuppressive Substance (ISS) levels were determined in 37 patents having renal cell carcinoma. We also investigated the clinical significance of TPA, ferritin and ISS as tumor markers for renal cell carcinoma.
The mean TPA level in stage I was within the normal range (upper normal level: 110U/L). In stage II, III and IV, however, TPA levels were beyond the normal range. The positive rates of TPA were 55.6% in stage II, and 60% in stage III and IV, while 12.5% in stage I.
The mean of ferritin levels in stage I and II were within the normal range (upper noral level: 220ng/ml), but in stage III and IV ferritin levels were beyond the normal range (283.4, 292.1ng/ml). The positive rates of ferritin were 12.5% in stage I, 0% in stage II, 40% in stage III and 46.7% in stage IV.
With 500μg/ml as the cut-off level of ISS, the mean of ISS levels in every stage were beyond the normal range. The positive rate of ISS was higher than those of TPA and ferritin, with the rates being 40% in stage I, 57.1% in stage II, 66.7% in stage III and 90.9% in stage IV.
The above results suggested the tendency that the levels and positive rates of TPA, ferritin and ISS become higher as the stage progresses in the case of renal cell carcinoma.
The determination of TPA, ferritin and ISS levels before and after treatment showed a good correlation to the clinical course of the disease in patients with renal cell carcinoma. This finding suggested that TPA, ferritin and ISS is a useful marker for monitoring renal cell carcinoma.
As for the positive rate in a combination assay for these three markers, 24 out of 26 patients (92.3%) with renal cell carcinoma had at least one positive marker. This finding suggested that the combination assay of TPA, ferritin and ISS in patients with renal cell carcinoma was valuable for use as a disease monitor.
