Introduction: Carcino embryonic antigen(CEA) is overexpressed primarily by adenocarcinomas including colon, rectum, breast and lung. It
should be noted that more than 90% of primary colorectal carcinomas produce CEA.CEA is a classic tumour marker for CRC, which is used to
monitor the recurrence of the disease and as a prognostic factor for the patients. In the present scenario, the serum CEAtest is recommended by the
American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Group on Tumor Markers 7 as a prognostic biomarker for recurrent CRC following
curative resection.
Aims: To study the distribution of carcinoembryonic antigen in colorectal carcinoma, the role of carcinoembryonic antigen in the prognosis of
colorectal carcinoma, to the variability of carcinoembryonic antigen values in recurrence of colorectal carcinoma and the sensitivity and specicity
of carcinoembryonic antigen estimation in colorectal cancer
Material And Method: This Institution based observational and prospective study was all the adult patients(>18yrs) who have been diagnosed
clinically with colorectal carcinoma and with recurrent disease in the Department of General surgery of R.G.Kar medical college and hospital from
January 2019 to August 2020 were included in this study.
Result: 10% of the patients were in Duke stage A, 16% patients were Duke stage B; 40% patients were with Duke stage C and 34%patients were
Duke stage D of colorectal carcinoma. Among those 13 patients with Duke A and B staging 30% had increased CEA, whereas among those 37
patients with Duke stage C and D 92% had increased CEA levels. The p-value was found to be 0.00033 that is<0.05,which meant the test was
statistically signicant. 80%(n=38) of the patients with colon carcinoma had increased CEAvalues whereas 20%(n=2) of the patients had normal
CEAvalues. 77%(n=7) patients in the rectal carcinoma group had increased CEAlevels whereas in 23%(n=3) patients it was normal.
Conclusion:This study shows an increased amount of CEAlevels in the preoperative period then the patient's chances of recurrence and metastasis
increases, hence having a poor prognosis. Regular surveillance through serial monitoring of the CEAlevels in the postoperative period is essential
to be vigilant of recurrences and metastasis, which may increase chances of mortality in the patient.