Table 2.

Soluble marker hCEA and βhCG serum level quantification on PD 5, 10 and 15 following gene transfer or UW only perfusion. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. hCEA serum level was significantly higher in Ad-NIS-CEA group on days 5 and 10 respect to the other three groups (*p<0.05, t-test); in the same group βhCG serum level was undetectable in all the analysis. βhCG serum level was significantly higher in Ad-NIS-CG group only on POD 5 respect to the other three groups (*p<0.05, t-test); in the same group hCEA serum level was undetectable in all the analysis. No differences were noted in serum levels obtained from UW and Ad-NIS perfused hears on sequential hCEA and βhCG serum quantification over time, in these two groups both hCEA and βhCG resulted undetectable in all serum samples (hCEA <0.1 ng/ml, βhCG <0.5 IU/L).

		POD 5		POD 10		POD 15
	N	hCEA (ng/ml)	β hCG (IU/L)	hCEA (ng/ml)	β hCG (IU/L)	hCEA (ng/ml)	β hCG (IU/L)
UW	3	<0.1	<0.5	<0.1	<0.5	<0.1	<0.5
Ad-NIS	6	<0.1	<0.5	<0.1	<0.5	<0.1	<0.5
Ad-NIS-CEA	6	4.4± 6.0*	<0.5	0.9± 1.1*	<0.5	<0.1	<0.5
Ad-NIS-CG	6	<0.1	7.8± 6.2*	<0.1	<0.5	<0.1	<0.5