Malaguarnera G, Giordano M, Paladina I, Rando A, Uccello M, Basile F, Biondi A, Carnazzo S, Alessandria I, Mazzarino C. Markers of bile duct tumors. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2011; 3(4): 49-59 [PMID: 21528090 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v3.i4.49]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Maria Giordano, MD, Departments of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, via Messina 829, 95126 Catania, Italy. maria-gior@hotmail.it
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Editorial
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World J Gastrointest Oncol. Apr 15, 2011; 3(4): 49-59 Published online Apr 15, 2011. doi: 10.4251/wjgo.v3.i4.49
Markers of bile duct tumors
Giulia Malaguarnera, Maria Giordano, Isabella Paladina, Alessandra Rando, Mario Uccello, Francesco Basile, Antonio Biondi, Santo Carnazzo, Innocenza Alessandria, Clorinda Mazzarino
Giulia Malaguarnera, Clorinda Mazzarino, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Catania, via Androne 83, 95124 Catania, Italy
Maria Giordano, Isabella Paladina, Alessandra Rando, Mario Uccello, Departments of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, via Messina 829, 95126 Catania, Italy
Francesco Basile, Antonio Biondi, Department of General Surgery, University Medical School of Catania, Hospital Vittorio Emanuele, via Plebiscito 628, 95124 Catania, Italy
Santo Carnazzo, Department of General Surgery, University Medical School of Catania, Policlinico via Santa Sofia 86, 95126 Catania, Italy
Innocenza Alessandria, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical School of Catania, Hospital Cannizzaro, via Messina 829, 95126 Catania, Italy
Author contributions: Malaguarnera G, Giordano M, Paladina I, Rando A, Uccello M and Alessandria I evaluated the importance of serum markers in the diagnosis and the follow up of bile duct tumors and their usefulness in the choice of a correct therapeutic approach; Basile F, Biondi A and Carnazzo S noticed the importance of serum markers to establish a prognosis and evaluate the possibility of a chirurgical approach; Mazzarino C coordinated the work.
Correspondence to: Maria Giordano, MD, Departments of Senescence, Urological, and Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, via Messina 829, 95126 Catania, Italy. maria-gior@hotmail.it
Telephone: +39-95-7262008 Fax: +39-95-7262011
Received: August 6, 2010 Revised: February 23, 2011 Accepted: March 2, 2011 Published online: April 15, 2011
Abstract
Biliary tract carcinomas are relatively rare, representing less than 1% of cancers. However, their incidence has increased in Japan and in industrialized countries like the USA. Biliary tract tumors have a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate because they are usually detected late in the course of the disease; therapeutic treatment options are often limited and of minimal utility. Recent studies have shown the importance of serum and molecular markers in the diagnosis and follow up of biliary tract tumors. This review aims to introduce the main features of the most important serum and molecular markers of biliary tree tumors. Some considerable tumor markers are cancer antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, chromogranin A, mucin 1, mucin 5, alpha-fetoprotein, claudins and cytokeratins.
