Background and purpose: To date

it mainly depended on imaging examination for detection of residual lesions

recurrence and distant metastasis

evaluation the sensitivity of radiotherapy and chemotherapy

and prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Thus

searching for new tumor markers for NPC early diagnosis and individualized treatment is still merited. This study was aimed to investigate the expressions of serum macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-3α and cystatin A in patients with NPC before and after treatment

and to explore two markers’ value in NPC diagnosis

clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcome assessment. Methods: The serum levels of MIP-3α and cystatin A in 140 primary NPC patients without distant metastasis before and after treatment were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compared with those in 100 healthy controls. Results: The sensitivity of MIP-3α and cystatin A were 92.1% and 42.1%

respectively; and the specificity of MIP-3α and cystatin A were 86.0% and 85.0%

respectively. All 140 NPC patients had complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR). Serum levels of MIP-3α and cystatin A in pre-treatment patients with NPC were higher than those in post-treatment patients and controls. Serum MIP-3α and cystatin A levels were associated with overall stage of NPC

and MIP-3α was also associated with T classification of NPC. The serum MIP-3α level in NPC with CR after treatment reduced to the level in control group

and that was still significantly higher in NPC with PR than in control group. No significant difference was found in the serum cystatin A level between NPC with CR or PR after treatment and control group. During 1-year follow-up

the post-treatment serum levels of MIP-3α and cystatin A were significantly higher in patients with distant metastasis than in patients without distant metastasis and controls. There was found statistically significant correlation between MIP-3α and cystatin A.Conclusion: MIP-3α may be a potential marker of NPC serological diagnosis. The detection of serum MIP-3α and cystatin A may contribute to the NPC staging and prediction of short-term clinical outcomes.