In order to assess the relative value of CA 19-9, Tissue Polypeptide Antigen (TPA) and Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), evaluated alone and in combination, in diagnosing pancreatic malignancy, serum CA 19-9, TPA and CEA were determined in 25 control subjects (CS), 26 pancreatic cancer (PC), 23 chronic pancreatitis (CP) and 21 benign extra-pancreatic diseases (EPD). The three markers were able to allocate the subjects correctly in 56.8% of the cases (CS 100%, PC 73.1%, CP 17.4%, EPD 28.6%). Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy in detecting pancreatic cancer were respectively: 77%, 91% and 68% for CA 19-9; 92%, 75% and 67% for TPA; 50%, 84% and 34% for CEA; 73%, 91% and 64% for the three parameters evaluated simultaneously. CA 19-9 and TPA appear to be useful indices of pancreatic cancer with a satisfactory specificity when related to chronic pancreatitis; their diagnostic value seems to be comparable and better than that of CEA; the combination of these markers does not improve the results obtained by CA 19-9 or TPA alone.