Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the expressions and clinical values of progastrinreleasing peptide (ProGRP) and carbohydrate antigen 724(CA724) in patients with gastric cancer. MethodsNinety patients with gastric cancer and fifty healthy subjects were selected from January 2014 to December 2016 in our hospital. Serum levels of ProGRP and CA724 were detected by electrochemiluminescence. The relationships between ProGRP and clinicopathological characteristics, postoperative recurrence and CA724 were analyzed. The diagnostic values of ProGRP and CA724 in gastric cancer were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. ResultsThe expressions of ProGRP and CA724 in patients with gastric cancer were (249.3±28.9)pg/ml and (148.8±33.5)U/ml respectively, which were significantly higher than those of healthy subjects ［(14.4±7.6)pg/ml and (3.8±1.4)U/ml］, and the differences were statistically sigificant (t=56.320, P＜0.001; t=30.504, P＜0.001). The expression of ProGRP in TNM stage ⅢⅣ ［(269.1±30.9)pg/ml］ was obviously higher than that in stage ⅠⅡ ［(198.5±23.9)pg/ml］, with a significant difference (t=11.200, P＜0.001). The expression of ProGRP in patients with lymph node metastasis ［(259.9±31.4)pg/ml］ was significantly higher than that in patients without lymph node metastasis ［(190.3±26.8)pg/ml］, with a significant difference (t=9.500, P＜0.001). The expression of ProGRP in patients with postoperative recurrence after one year ［(181.3±21.7)pg/ml］ was higer than that in patients without postoperative recurrence ［(26.1±12.8)pg/ml］, with a significant difference (t=31.830, P＜0.001). There was a positive correlation between serum ProGRP and CA724 (r=0.792, P=0.012). According to the ROC curve, the cutoff point of ProGRP was 23.6 pg/ml, and the diagnostic sensitivity was 80.0%, the specificity was 70.0%. The cutoff point of CA724 was 11.2 U/ml, and the diagnostic sensitivity was 60.0%, the specificity was 89.0%. The sensitivity and specificity diagnostic value of combined detection were 89.7% and 94.8%, better than those of individual detection (χ2=6.028, P=0.009; χ2=4.675, P=0.031). ConclusionProGRP and CA724 are highly expressed in the serum of gastric cancer patients, with a positive correlation. The combined detection of ProGRP and CA724 can improve the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. ProGRP is significantly correlated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and prognosis, which may be a mew target for prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

Key words: Stomach neoplasms, Pro-gastrin-releasing peptide, Carbohydrate antigen 72-4