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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Published on: June 16, 2014
Tumor marker elevations in chronic kidney disease: a retrospective study
Liuxia You1, Zhongying Xu2, Qiaoling Liu1
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China.
Elevated tumor markers like pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (proGRP) and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) are observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. These markers show potential for early detection of renal dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Oncology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects a significant population globally.
- Early detection of renal dysfunction is crucial for effective management and improved patient outcomes.
- Tumor markers are increasingly being investigated for non-oncological applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare tumor marker levels in patients with CKD versus healthy individuals.
- To identify potential tumor markers for monitoring early renal dysfunction.
- To investigate the correlation between tumor markers and CKD staging.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 522 participants (172 CKD patients, 350 controls).
- CKD patients categorized into stages (CKD1-5) based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).
- Analysis of plasma creatinine, general clinical data, and various tumor biomarkers including CA125, CA15-3, CA19-9, proGRP, HE4, CEA, and NSE.
Main Results:
- Elevated levels of CEA, CA125, CA15-3, CA19-9, NSE, proGRP, and HE4 were found in CKD patients compared to controls (p < 0.05).
- These markers remained elevated even in CKD patients with normal serum creatinine.
- ProGRP and HE4 demonstrated high predictive values for early renal insufficiency (AUC 0.736 and 0.931, respectively).
- HE4 and proGRP showed positive correlations with CKD stages (r=0.623 and r=0.712, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Patients with CKD exhibit higher levels of several tumor markers.
- Tumor markers, particularly proGRP and HE4, show promise as indicators for the early diagnosis of renal impairment.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore clinical applications.
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