Serum carbohydrate antigen elevations in endometrial adenocarcinomas: Characterization of DU-PAN-2 expression as a tumor marker

Aim: To characterize serum elevations of carbohydrate antigens; DU‐PAN‐2, CA19‐9, sialyl Lewisx and CA125 in endometrial adenocarcinomas (EMACs), particularly focusing on the clarification of DU‐PAN‐2 expression profiles. Methods: Sixty‐four resected EMACs of endometrioid type were used. The preoperative serum values of four markers were measured and comparatively analyzed regarding the relationship between histological grade and clinicopathological stage. Results: The overall ratios of positive cases were 26.2% for DU‐PAN‐2, 25.0% for CA19‐9, 13.6% for sialyl Lewisx, and 35.5% for CA125. DU‐PAN‐2 decreased as the grading went up (G1: 410.3 ± 243.8 to G3: 246.7 ± 90.0 U/mL), however, the reverse was true with CA19‐9 (G1: 123.9 ± 147.4 to G3: 320.0 ± 180.0 U/mL). Sialyl Lewisx showed a strong tendency towards high elevation in G1 (346.3 ± 102.6 U/mL), compared to G3 (