Diagnostic Value of Preoperative Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen and Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Background: Since the first introduction of tumour markers, their usefulness for diagnosis has been a challenging question. The aim of the present prospective study was to investigate, in colorectal cancer patients, the relationship between preoperative tumour marker concentrations and various clinical variables. Methods: The study prospectively enrolled 131 consecutive patients with a confirmed diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma and 131 age- and sex-matched control subjects with no malignancy. The relationships of the tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (cea) and carbohydrate antigen (ca) 19-9 with disease stage, tumour differentiation (grade), mucus production, liver function tests, T stage, N stage, M stage were investigated. Results: Serum concentrations of cea were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (p = 0.001); they were also significantly higher in stage iii (p = 0.018) and iv disease (p = 0.001) than in stage i. Serum concentrations of cea were significantly elevated in the presence of spread to lymph nodes (p = 0.005) in the patient group. Levels of both tumour markers were significantly elevated in the presence of distant metastasis in the patient group (p = 0.005 for cea; p = 0.004 for ca 19-9). Conclusions: Preoperative levels of cea and ca 19-9 might provide an estimate of lymph node invasion and distant metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.

Head-to-Head Comparison and Evaluation of 92 Plasma Protein Biomarkers for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer in a True Screening Setting

“…However, due to its limited sensitivity especially for early stage cancer, and its limited organ specificity, CEA is not regarded as suited as an individual diagnostic marker despite its undisputed value for monitoring tumor recurrence (35,36) and metastasis (37,38). In our analyses, CEA was found to have higher plasma levels in colorectal cancer patients at advanced stages compared with early ones, which is consistent with previous evidence (39).…”

Clinical value of Naa10p and CEA levels in saliva and serum for diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…A study of CEA associated with malignancy reported that CEA level is positively correlated with tumor progression, with CEA positivity >50% in patients with tumor lymph node metastasis . Additionally, serum CEA level in patients with colorectal cancer was significantly higher than that in a noncancerous group, and CEA concentrations in phase III and phase IV were significantly higher than those detected in phase I. Colorectal cancer patients with lymph node metastases or distant metastases showed significantly increased serum CEA concentrations relative to controls and early‐stage patients . The present study found that salivary CEA levels in OSCC patients were correlated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis, whereas serum CEA level was correlated with lymph node metastasis.…”

“…28 Additionally, serum CEA level in patients with colorectal cancer was significantly higher than that in a noncancerous group, and CEA concentrations in phase III and phase IV were significantly higher than those detected in phase I. Colorectal cancer patients with lymph node metastases or distant metastases showed significantly increased serum CEA concentrations relative to controls and earlystage patients. 29 The present study found that salivary CEA levels in OSCC patients were correlated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis, whereas serum CEA level was correlated with lymph node metastasis. Our results confirmed that salivary CEA can be used as an indicator of OSCC severity and served as a method of assessing OSCC staging and lymph node invasion.…”

Esophageal Cancer Management: Preoperative CA19.9 and CEA Serum Levels May Identify Occult Advanced Adenocarcinoma

“…The key point of these observations is that the threshold values of both markers for occult unresectable esophageal World J Surg cancer were much lower (more or less half of them) than those reported as common ''normal'' values (usually calculated on pancreatic cancer patients) [15]. This data should be carefully taken in consideration when a final preoperative evaluation is carried on.…”