[CA-50: evaluation of a new tumor marker in the diagnosis of neoplastic pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract].

: In order to assess the diagnostic value of CA-50, a new tumour marker, a series of 226 patients with gastroenteric tumours, 152 healthy controls and 175 patients with benign gastrointestinal pathologies, was examined. CEA, CA 19-9, Alphafetoprotein and CA-50 were assayed in all subjects and the results subjected to statistical analysis in order to discover the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic value of the new marker. Studies conducted to date indicate that CA-50 assays may be of some value in the diagnosis of pancreatic and liver tumours but are no improvement on existing markers in clinical use, for the diagnosis of gastroenteric tumours. Indeed CA-50 gives a very large number of false positive especially in cirrhosis and to a lesser extent in chronic pancreatitis.