PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC CANCER

respectively. The CEAwas eleved in 30% of T4 (23/76), 31% of T3 (10/32), 60% of T2 (3/5) and CA19.9 was eleved in 23% of T4 (18/76), 9% of T3 (3/32). In patient with lymph node metasatsis CEA and CA19.9 were eleved in 33% (26/78) and 21% (17/78) respectively. The CEA and CA19.9 were eleved in 25% (2/8), 0% in stage II of TNM classification, 23% (5/21), 9% (2/21) in stage III and 34% (29/85), 22% (19/85) in stage IV respectively. In patient with peritoneal metastases CEA and CA19.9 were elevated in 29% (15/51) and 25% (13/51) respectively. The CA19.9 and CEAwere eleved in 12% (6/50), 22% (11/50) of patients with singnet ring carcinoma and in 23% (15/64), 40% (25/64) of patients with adenocarcinoma respectively. No correlation was found between the positive rates of CEA and CA19-9 and the T stage, N stage, peritoneal metastases or extent of disease. Conclusion: In this study, the majority of patients have advanced and metastatic gastric cancer at diagnosis. But, serum levels of CEA and CA19.9 were normal at the majority of them. That suggests no relationship between rate of these tumour markers and advanced or metastatic gastric cancer in our population. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.