Abstract
Pathological amounts of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have earlier been reported in the plasma of patients with retinoblastoma, and it has been suggested that CEA determinations be used in the follow-up of treatment of these patients. In the present study, 47 retinoblastoma specimens from the years 1962–1982 were examined. These specimens represented different clinical and pathological tumour types. Colon adenocarcinomata positive for CEA were used as controls. The laboratory method was a highly sensitive immunohistochemical peroxidase-staining procedure. By this method, CEA was not found in any of the retinoblastomata examined. It is probable that retinoblastoma does not produce CEA, but in theory it may indirectly increase the CEA titre or, on the other hand, be fully independent of CEA. Only after this relationship has been thoroughly clarified can determinations of plasma CEA in patients with retinoblastoma be used in clinical work.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anonymous (1981) Carcinoembryonic antigen: its role as a marker in the management of cancer — summary of an NIH consensus statement. Br Med J (Clin Res) 282:373–375
Breborowicz J, Mondelski S, Majewski P, Sienkowa E (1978) Antygen karcinoembrionalny i alfafetoproteina u chorych z nowotworami wewnqtrzgalkowymi. Klin Oczna 48: 217–218
Char DH, Christensen M (1980) Immune complexes and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in metastatic choroidal tumors. Am J Ophthalmol 89:628–631
DeLellis RA, Sternberger LA, Mann RB, Banks PM, Nakane PK (1979) Immunoperoxidase technics in diagnostic pathology — report of a workshop sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Am J Clin Pathol 71:483–488
Denslow GT, Kielar RA (1978) Metastatic adenocarcinoma to the anterior uvea and elevated CEA levels. Cancer 42:1504–1506
Felberg NT, Michelson JB, Shields JA (1976) CEA family syndrome — abnormal carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in asymptomatic retinoblastoma family members. Cancer 37: 1397–1402
Gerke E, Hierholzer E, Vogel M, Höpping W, Kuwert EK (1978) Das Verhalten des carcinoembryonalen Antigens beim Retinoblastom. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 205:121–127
Gold P, Freedman SO (1965a) Demonstration of tumor-specific antigens in human colonic carcinomata by immunological tolerance and absorption techniques. J Exp Med 121:439–459
Gold P, Freedman SO (1965b) Specific carcinoembryonic antigens of the human digestive system. J Exp Med 122:467–481
Goldenberg DM, Sharkey RM, Primus FJ (1976) Carcinoembryonic antigen in histopathology: immunoperoxidase staining of conventional tissue sections. J Natl Cancer Inst 57:11–22
Harrowe DJ, Taylor CR (1981) Immunoperoxidase staining for carcinoembryonic antigen in colonic carcinoma, osteosarcoma and chordoma. J Surg Oncol 16:1–6
Hsu S-M, Raine L, Fanger H (1981a) Use of avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) in immunoperoxidase techniques: a comparison between ABC and unlabeled antibody (PAP) procedures. J Histochem Cytochem 29:577–580
Hsu S-M, Raine L, Fanger H (1981b) A comparative study of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method and an avidin-biotin complex method for studying polypeptide hormones with radioimmunoassay antibodies. Am J Clin Pathol 75:734–738
von Kleist S (1977) The possible role of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and other carcinofetal antigens in malignant and benign diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Z Krebsforsch 90:1–11
Loewenstein MS, Zamcheck N (1978) Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in benign gastrointestinal disease states. Cancer 42:1412–1418
Michelson JB, Felberg NT, Shields JA (1976a) Carcinoembryonic antigen — its role in the evaluation of intraocular malignant tumors. Arch Ophthalmol 94:414–416
Michelson JB, Felberg NT, Shields JA (1976b) Fetal antigens in retinoblastoma. Cancer 37:719–723
Michelson JB, Felberg NT, Shields JA (1977) Evaluation of metastatic cancer to the eye — carcinoembryonic antigen and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase. Arch Ophthalmol 95:692–694
Minoda K, Komatsu M, Kojima T (1981) Carcinoembryonic antigen in retinoblastoma. In: Abstracts — International Symposium on Intraocular Tumors, Schwerin, May 17–20, 1981
Reid TW, Albert DM, Rabson AS, Russell P, Craft J, Chu EW, Tralka TS, Wilcox JL (1974) Characteristics of an established cell line of retinoblastoma. J Natl Cancer Inst 53:347–360
Rogers GT (1976) Heterogeneity of carcinoembryonic antigen — implications on its role as a tumour marker substance. Biochem Biophys Acta 458:355–373
Tomita JT, Safford JW, Hirata AA (1974) Antibody response to different determinants on carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Immunology 26:291–298
Vogel F (1979) Genetics of retinoblastoma. Hum Genet 52:1–54
Vrba R, Alpert E, Isselbacher KJ (1975) Carcinoembryonic antigen: evidence for multiple antigenic determinants and isoantigens. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 72:4602–4606
Zimmerman LE (ed); (1980) Histological typing of tumours of the eye and its adnexa. World Health Organization, Geneva
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kivelä, T., Tarkkanen, A. Carcinoembryonic antigen in retinoblastoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 221, 8–11 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02171724
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02171724