Background: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical significance of multiple tumor markers (CA-125, CEA, Cyfra, NSE and SCC) in the thymic tumors.
Methods: Between the years of 2012 and 2014, the data of 313 patients who underwent thymectomy for thymic tumors in Shanghai Chest Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The relations among tumor markers, pathological type, pathological stage and radical resection rate were analysed.
Results: For the different pathological types of thymic tumors, the positive rates of CA-125 and Cyfra were significantly higher in the thymic carcinomas than the other types of thymic tumors (18.1% vs. 6.2%, P<0.05 and 19.4% vs. 2.9%, P<0.05). For the different stages of thymic tumors, the positive rates of CA-125 and Cyfra were significantly higher in stage III–IV disease than stage I–II disease (15.3% vs. 6%, P<0.05 and 14.3% vs. 3.3%, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the positive rates of CEA, NSE and SCC for different pathological types and stage (P>0.05). No statistically significant difference of five biomarker positive rates was detected in the R0, R1 and R2 resections (P>0.05).
Conclusions: CA-125 and Cyfra have certain clinical value in the diagnosis of thymic tumors. It is significant for predicting the pathological type and stage in the thymic tumors.
