The presence of serum tumor markers, carbohydrate antigen 242 (CA242), carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199), carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tumor-supplied group of factors (TSGF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), is closely associated with invasion and metastasis of many malignancies. The expression of these markers were measured in serum taken from 37 pancreatic cancer patients prior to treatment. Levels of CA242, CA199, CA125, CEA and TNF-alpha expression correlated with tumor size, clinical stage, tumor differentiation, lymph node and liver metastasis (P < 0.05). One month after cryosurgery, serum levels of these markers were significantly reduced compared with levels prior to cryosurgery (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference was found between serum levels before and after chemotherapy (P > 0.05). Thus, cryosurgery is more effective than chemotherapy for decreasing CA242, CA199, CA125, CEA, TSGF and TNF-alpha serum levels in these patients.