Serial lumbar and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid biochemical marker measurements in patients with leptomeningeal metastases from solid and hematological tumors

• Published in: Journal of neuro-oncology Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 57 - 63
• Main Authors: TWIJNSTRA, A, ONGERBOER DE VISSER, B. W, VAN ZANTEN, A. P, HART, A. A. M, NOOYEN, W. J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-05-1989
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; beta 2-Microglobulin - cerebrospinal fluid; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - metabolism; Brain Neoplasms - mortality; Brain Neoplasms - secondary; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoembryonic Antigen - cerebrospinal fluid; Carcinoma - metabolism; Carcinoma - mortality; Carcinoma - secondary; Female; Glucuronidase - cerebrospinal fluid; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Meningeal Neoplasms - metabolism; Meningeal Neoplasms - mortality; Meningeal Neoplasms - secondary; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neurology; Tumors of the nervous system. Phacomatoses; Therapeutic efficiency; Human; Intracranial; Nervous system diseases; Prognosis; Vertebral canal; Enzyme; Biological marker; Cerebral ventricle; Cerebrospinal fluid; Metastasis; Survival; Carcinoembryonic antigen; Leptomeninge; Tumor; Lumbar; Localization; β2-Microglobulin
• ISSN: 0167-594X; 1573-7373
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00149379

This study presents results of investigations of lumbar and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biochemical markers (Beta-glucuronidase (B-gluc), Beta-2-microglobulin (B2-m), and carcinoembrionic antigen (CEA] in 28 patients with five different tumor types with leptomeningeal metastasis diagnosed by CSF cytology and/or autopsy. All received methotrexate and radiotherapy at some stage. Decadron or other symptomatic treatments were not used. Measurements of the concentrations of B-gluc, B2-m and CEA were evaluated with the aim of correlating the results of these measurements to site of disease, of monitoring response and early relapse of leptomeningeal disease, and of establishing the duration of survival. In almost all our patients the results of ventricular CSF B-gluc, B2-m and CEA measurements were lower than those obtained from lumbar CSF. The markers did not correlate with site of disease or CSF cytology. A clear relationship was found between pretreatment lumbar CSF B2-m and CEA levels, response to therapy and survival. The markers are also useful for monitoring response. The findings of this study indicate that B2-m and CEA levels have a prognostic value with regard to response to therapy and time of survival.