Relationship between serum calcium and CA 19-9 levels in colorectal cancer

Abstract

Aim: To examine the calcium metabolism of colorectal cancer (CRC) in patients with colorectral cancer and control patients. Methods: Seventy newly diagnosed CRC patients were included. The healthy control group was age and gender matched (n=32). Particular attention was devoted to the relationship between serum calcium of patients, and levels of AFP, CEA, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) (that could be considered as prognostic factors). Furthermore, the Ca-sensing receptor (CaSR) gene A986S polymorphism was investigated in these coatings, as well as the relationship between different CaSR genotypes and the data stated above. Results: A lower level of ionized calcium (also corrected for albumin) was found in the serum of CRC patients with normal 25(OH) vitamin D levels. The ionized calcium concentration was inversely correlated with the serum level of CA 19-9. There was no difference in the distribution of CaSR genotypes, between CRC patients and general population. The genotypes did not correlate with other data examined. Conclusion: Based on these results lower levels of serum calcium might be a pothogenic and prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. Copyright © 2004 by The WJG Press.