Objective To explore the value of clinical use of combined detection with tumor markers for pan- creatic cancer. Methods Tumor markers CA242,CAl9-9 and CA50 in serum of 32 patinets with pancreatic cancer; 26 patients with non-pancreatic digestive tract cancers and 24 patietns with benign pancreatic or biliary tract diseases were measured by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Results The levels of three markers in serum and positive rates or patients with pancreatic cancer were higher than those of other patients. The effect of measurement combining CA242 with CA19-9 was the best. The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of diagnosis for pancreatic cancer were 92.6%, 73.8% and 81.2% respectively. The levels of CA242 and CA19-9 were positively relative to burden of pancre- atic cancer, and serum levels of these two markers of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer were lower than those with unresectable, but on difference was observed for CA50. Conclusion Combined detection of serum CA242 and CA19-9 could prove the effectual indicator for finding the patients with pancreatic cancer in high risk population or for resectable pancreatic cancer. Pre-operative measurement of serum levels of CA242 and CAl9-9 is helpful to evalu- ate the burden of the tumors and possiblity of resect for pancreatic cancers. Objective To explore the value of clinical use of combined detection with tumor markers for pan-creatic cancer. Methods Tumor markers CA242, CA19-9 and CA50 in serum of 32 patinets with pancreatic cancer; 26 patients with non-pancreatic digestive tract cancers and 24 patietns with benign pancreatic or biliary tract diseases were measured by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). Results The levels of three markers in serum and positive rates or patients with pancreatic cancer were higher than those of other patients. The effect of measurement combining CA242 with CA19- 9 was the best. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of diagnosis for pancreatic cancer were 92.6%, 73.8% and 81.2% respectively. The levels of CA242 and CA19-9 were positively relative burden of pancre- atic cancer, and serum levels of these two markers of patients with resectable pancreatic cancer were lower than those with unresectable, but on difference was observed for CA50. Conclusion Combined detection of serum CA2 42 and CA19-9 could prove the effectual indicator for finding the patients with pancreatic cancer in high risk population or for resectable pancreatic cancer. Pre-operative measurement of serum levels of CA242 and CAl9-9 is helpful to evalu- ate the burden of the tumors and possiblity of resect for pancreatic cancers.