Elevated gastric juice carbohydrate antigen 72.4 (CA 72.4) is an independent prognostic factor of poor survival for gastric cancer patients

Background/aim: As of 2020, carbohydrate antigen 72.4 (Ca 72.4) has been rarely investigated in the gastric juice (GJ) of patients with gastric cancer (GC). Our aim was to analyze the significance and role of this tumor antigen in the GJ of our GC population. Patients and methods: Between April 2012 and July 2013, 37 patients with operable GC were prospectively investigated to determine the GJ Ca 72.4 levels before surgical manipulation. Results: GJ Ca 72.4 ≥6.49 ng/ml strongly correlated with the traditional categories of aggressive cancer (advanced tumor depth and stage, lymph node invasion and metastatic lymphatic ratio, indication to adjuvant treatment). It also associated with shorter survival (p=0.049) and is, thus, suggested as an independent factor of poor prognosis in GC patients (p=0.047). Conclusion: The GJ Ca 72.4 parameter should be considered an indicator of an aggressive tumor phenotype and should be used in the prognostic assessment of GC patients.