A comparative study of ProGRP and CEA as serological markers in small cell lung cancer treatment

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) presents a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and the need for effective biomarkers for treatment monitoring. This study aimed to compare ProGRP and CEA as serological markers in the monitoring of SCLC treatment.

We retrospectively analyzed data from 80 SCLC patients and 80 matched controls. ProGRP and CEA levels were measured, and their associations with clinical parameters, including tumor stage and treatment response, were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to identify independent predictors of treatment response and disease progression.

ProGRP and CEA levels were considerably higher in cases than controls, with median ProGRP levels at 198.5 pg/mL versus 48.7 pg/mL and median CEA levels at 5.2 ng/mL versus 2.9 ng/mL (both p < 0.001). ProGRP levels correlated positively with tumor stage (ρ = 0.58, p < 0.001) and negatively with treatment response (ρ = - 0.45, p = 0.001). CEA levels also showed positive correlation with tumor stage (ρ = 0.48, p = 0.002) and negative correlation with treatment response (ρ = - 0.35, p = 0.005). Multivariate analysis revealed that ProGRP was an independent predictor for treatment response (OR 1.25 per 100 pg/mL increase, p = 0.001) and disease progression (OR 1.25 per 50 pg/mL increase, p = 0.012), while CEA was a marginal predictor for treatment response (OR 0.95 per 1 ng/mL increase, p = 0.045).

Both ProGRP and CEA are significant serological markers in SCLC patients, with ProGRP showing a stronger correlation with tumor stage and treatment response. ProGRP may serve as a superior independent predictor of treatment response and disease progression compared to CEA. These findings support the incorporation of ProGRP in SCLC treatment monitoring protocols.