Fig. 3.

Distribution of prospective biomarkers

Distribution based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system a T (median carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) 0.6 versus 0.6 (1.8 versus 1.8 μg/l) (P < 0.798); median carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) 3.5 versus 4.1 (31.6 versus 61.6 kU/l) (P < 0.001)), and b N stage (median CEA 0.6 versus 0.6 (1.8 versus 1.9 μg/l) (P < 0.592); median CA19-9 3.6 versus 4.2 (37.1 versus 67.9 kU/l) (P < 0.001)), in patients with early- and advanced-stage cancer.