Precystectomy serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9, carbohydrate antigen 125, and carcinoembryonic antigen: Prognostic value in invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder

Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic value of precystectomy carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). Methods and materials: Preoperatively collected serum samples from patients with invasive UCB who underwent radical cystectomy between 2004 and 2009 were used to measure CA 19-9, CA 125, and CEA levels. Laboratory cutoff points were used to define elevated marker levels (CA 19-9>37. U/ml, CA 125>35. U/ml, and CEA>3.8. U/ml). The Cox regression model was used to identify independent predictors of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 186 patients with the mean age of 69 years (range: 36-89) and median follow-up of 4 years (range: 0.1-7.2) were included in the study. Overall, 94 (51%) patients had pathologic organ-confined disease (≤T2) and 92 (49%) had pathologic locally advanced UCB (pT3-T4 or positive lymph node or both). The mean CA 19-9, CA 125, and CEA levels were 11.6. U/ml (range:<0.6-111), 11.5. U/ml (range: 3-56), and 2.2. ng/ml (range: 0.3-30.2), respectively. Levels of CA 19-9, CEA, and CA 125 were elevated in 7 (3%), 25 (13%), and 3 (1%) patients, respectively. Median 3-year RFS and OS were 72%. Using the multivariate Cox regression model, elevated levels of CA 19-9 and CEA were found to be independent predictors of worse 3-year OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.7, P = 0.05 and HR = 2, P = 0.03, respectively), and an elevated level of CA 19-9 was an independent predictor of worse 3-year RFS (HR = 2.8, P = 0.05). Precystectomy CA 125 level was not associated with oncological outcome. Conclusions: Elevated precystectomy serum levels of CA 19-9 and CEA are independent predictors of worse oncological outcome in patients with invasive UCB. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of these markers in the management of UCB.