Tissue concentrations of CEA and CA 19-9 in the carcinogenesis of colorectal carcinoma exemplified by the adenoma-carcinoma sequence

Abstract

To study the behavior of the tumor-associated antigens CEA and CA 19-9 in colorectal carcinogenesis, exemplified by the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, their tissue concentrations were measured in adenomas of different size and histology and compared with those found in normal colonic mucosa and carcinoma. Both in the case of monoclonal and polyclonal CEA assay, significantly higher concentrations were found in the adenoma tissue as compared with normal mucosa. Carcinomas revealed, on average, an even higher tissue CEA level, but the concentrations measured showed considerable scatter. In the adenoma group, the villous lesions and those with severe cellular atypia were characterized by markedly higher CEA concentrations, reflecting their special position in the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. In the case of CA 19-9, too, an increase in tissue concentrations from normal mucosa through adenoma to carcinoma was observed. In contrast, among the adenomas of different histologies and dysplasia no differences were observed. These findings fit with the concept of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence which, in our opinion, represents a suitable model for studying the significance of tumor-associated antigens in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer and its precursors.

Tissue carcinoembryonic antigen and dna aneuploidy in precancerous and cancerous colorectal lesions

“…We may also speculate that inflammatory mucosa with cellular dysplasia may have higher tissue levels, as has been shown in colorectal adenoma. 17 Changes of cellular DNA content have been studied extensively in various malignancies during the last year^.^-",'^-^' There is increasing evidence that histologically benign precancerous lesions may already be genomically aberrant. Rabinovitch et a1.I4 reported on aneuploid DNA content within patches of epithelial hyperplasia that characterized Barrett's esophagus.…”

Differential Expression of a New Tumor-Associated Antigen, TLP, During Human Colorectal Cancer Tumorigenesis

“…To date, several tumor antigens, ie, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 (TAG-72), and blood group-related antigens, have been associated with parameters conventionally believed to indicate malignant potential, such as degree of dysplasia. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Moreover, extensive studies have shown the clinical utility of the measurement of serum expression of these antigens as an additional diagnostic parameter for early diagnosis of recurrent disease during postsurgical follow-up. 1,[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] In the past 15 years, several new tumor-associated antigens have been identified and characterized.…”

Expression of carcinoembryonic antigen and related genes in lung and gastrointestinal cancers

“…In lung and GI tumors and in their cell lines, the median concentrations of CEA were greater than in their corresponding nonmalignant tissues. Previous studies have demonstrated that concentrations, biosynthesis and processing of CEA in colorectal tumors are different from those of normal colonic epithelial cells (Fischbach and Mossner, 1988;Shirota et al, 1988).…”