A Trefoil Factor Family Protein Might Be Useful for Gastric Cancer Screening

Serum TFF3 level was a better marker for gastric cancer than was the pepsinogen ratio.

Trefoil factor family proteins are a group of peptides — TFF1, TFF2, and TFF3 — that are expressed in a tissue-specific manner in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. To determine whether these proteins might be useful for gastric cancer (GC) screening, investigators in Japan measured their serum levels in 183 patients with GC (before treatment) and 280 healthy controls. They also measured serum levels of pepsinogen I and II and anti–Helicobacter pylori antibodies.

All of these markers were higher in GC patients than in controls, but TFF3 was particularly elevated. At a cutoff level of 3.6 ng/mL, the odds ratio, sensitivity, and specificity of TFF3 for detecting GC were 18.1 (95% confidence interval, 11.2–29.2), 80.9%, and 81.0%, respective…

Reviewing Author

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose