부산대학교 도서관

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a well-known tumor marker, a measurable factor circulating in the body fluids of cancer patients. CEA is not specific for a particular tumor, however. Postoperative screening of patients with colorectal cancer may be performed with serial CEA measurements. A study was undertaken to determine the usefulness of these measurements. There were 425 patients with primary colorectal cancer who underwent surgery; average follow-up was four years. The preoperative and postoperative CEA levels were able to predict cancer recurrence and patient survival. Excluding patients who had very advanced (stage IV) disease (27 percent of the study group), recurrent disease was found in 132 patients (42 percent). The CEA level at the time of cancer recurrence was not predictive of survival, except in patients with local/regional disease. Survival of patients with liver or lung metastasis (cancer spread) was not influenced by the CEA level at the time of recurrence. CEA levels obtained before and after surgery can be helpful in identifying those patients with a poorer prognosis, who might benefit from adjuvant treatment. CEA level at the time of recurrence can be used effectively to diagnose cancer recurrence within the abdomen, and to project survival after local or regional recurrence. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)