Comparison of tumour markers in malignant mesothelioma and pulmonary adenocarcinoma

Immunohistological methods were used to investigate the presence of carcinoembryonic antigen, β₁ pregnancy specific glycoprotein, β subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin, human placental lactogen, calcitonin, and keratin in formalin fixed tissue from 29 malignant mesotheliomas and 27 pulmonary adenocarcinomas. Malignant mesotheliomas were negative for tumour markers except for the β subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin and keratin, one and 13 cases respectively being positive for these. Pulmonary adenocarcinomas, however, were frequently positive for tumour markers - namely, carcinoembryonic antigen (24), β₁ pregnancy specific glycoprotein (23), β subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (8), human placental lactogen (2), calcitonin (3), and keratin (12). The presence of carcinoembryonic antigen and β₁ pregnancy specific glycoprotein within an intrathoracic tumour is strong evidence against its being of mesothelial origin.