Abstract

To determine the effect of surgery on serum tumor marker level serum ferritin, AFP, CEA, Ca-19.9, and Ca-125 levels were measured by immunoradiometric assay in 19 patients. The patients were operated for gastrointestinal malignities (8 gastric, 5 colorectal, 6 esophageal tumor). Serum tumor marker levels were measured preoperative and postoperative 7thday. Following the operation, serum ferritin and Ca-125 levels elevated above the cut-off levels in most of the patients, (95% Confidence Interval-CI, preop; 9.2-51.2 and 16.3-61.6 postop; 28.9-75.6 and 66.9-99.7) but CEA and Ca-19.9 levels decreased in most of the patients (Cl preop; 33.5-79.8 and 12,6-56.6, postop; 1,3-33. 1 and 0-17,7). AF:P levels did not change in all patients (Cl, preop and postop 0-17.7). We think that, increased serum ferritin levels may be a result of release of ferritin from damaged liver cell due to anaesthetics agents and also increased Ca-125 levels may be explained as a result of damaged tissue due to anaesthetics agents and drugs. Decreasing of CEA levels may be explained as a result of debulking.