Increased serological cancer-associated biomarker levels at large bowel endoscopy and risk of subsequent primary cancer^†

Abstract

Background: Frequently, subjects offered colonoscopy due to symptoms of colorectal neoplasia are diagnosed with diverticula. The symptoms may, however, also be related to extra-colonic neoplasia. The present retrospective study evaluated a possible association between increased levels of predefined biomarkers in subjects diagnosed with diverticula and risk of developing a primary malignant disease.

Methods: During 2004/2005, about 4509 subjects were included in a multicenter study with collection of blood samples before bowel endoscopy. The aim was to evaluate a relation between the protein biomarkers CEA, TIMP-1, CA19-9 and YKL-40 and findings at endoscopy. Diverticula were diagnosed in 1021 subjects. By 31 December 2012, subjects who had developed primary malignancy were identified retrospectively and relation between biomarker levels at endoscopy and risk of developing primary malignancy was calculated. The relation with the four biomarkers was divided into three groups: 0 = none increased; 1 = one increased and 2 = two or more increased.

Results: In the observation period, 148 subjects developed a primary malignant disease. Univariable analyzes of the biomarker levels showed that CEA, TIMP-1 and CA19-9 were significantly associated with development of primary malignancy. A multivariable analysis showed that increased levels were associated with development of malignancy (p < 0.0001). The 1- and 5-year cumulative risks of being diagnosed with a primary malignancy were: group 0: 1.1%/5.5%; group 1: 4.2%/10.1% and group 2: 11.4%/18.8%, respectively.

Conclusion: Increased levels of CEA, TIMP-1 and CA19-9 at endoscopy with findings of diverticula were associated with a significantly increased risk of being diagnosed with a subsequent primary malignant disease.

Keywords:

• CA19-9
• CEA
• colorectal cancer
• diverticula
• endoscopy
• malignancy
• TIMP-1
• YKL-40

Acknowledgements

The endoscopists, research nurses, secretaries and technicians at the participating hospital departments and laboratories are thanked for their skillful work.

Disclosure statement

Determinations of CEA, CA19-9 and TIMP-1 in plasma samples were performed at Abbott Centre’s of Excellence in Munich, Germany and Amsterdam, The Netherlands, free of charge.

Funding information

The study received financial support from The Danish Cancer Society, The Kornerup Fund, The Aage and Johanne Louis-Hansen Fund, The Aase and Ejnar Danielsen Fund, The Walter and O. Kristiane Christensen Fund, The Kathrine and Vigo Skovgaard Fund, Den Midtjyske Bladfond, The Agnes and Poul Friis Fund, The Glunz and Jensen Fund, The Sophus and Astrid Jacobsen Fund, The Arvid Nilsson Fund, The Danish Bank Fund, The Johannes Fog Fund, The Eva and Henry Fraenkel Fund, The Hartmann Bros. Fund, The KID Fund, The Henrik Henriksen Fund, The King Christian X’s Fund, The Oda and Hans Svenningsen Fund, The Else and Mogens Wedell-Wedellsborg Fund, The Einar Willumsen Fund, The Willy and Ingeborg Reinhard Fund, The Friedrich and Else Boehm Fund, The Toyota Fund Denmark, The IMK Fund, The Danish Medical Research Fund, The Beckett Fund and Hvidovre University Hospital.