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Predictive value of plasma CEA levels: Preoperative prognosis and postoperative monitoring of patients with colorectal carcinoma

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Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

Plasma CEA levels were determined in 280 patients with histologically proven colorectal carcinoma: in 180 once or twice preoperatively and repeatedly postoperatively, and in 100 postoperatively only. Preoperative levels correlated directly with surgical-pathologic state and inversely with the time of recurrence;i.e., groups of patients with more advanced stage showed higher proportion of elevated CEA levels, and patients with higher levels had recurrences earlier. Levels above 20 ng/ml were strongly suggestive of liver metastases or disseminated disease.

Postoperative plasma CEA levels displayed three patterns of variation. 1) Levels fluctuating within normal range, below 3.2 ng/ml, strongly evidenced that surgery was effective, and 2) those fluctuating below 7.5 ng/ml indicated usually nonmalignant concomitant disease; in either group no more than 10 per cent of the patients had recurrences. 3) Levels rising persistently from a postoperative nadir indicated recurrence or, when the rise was dramatic, liver metastases or disseminated cancer in at least 97 per cent of the patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Nuclear Medicine and Oncological Surgery, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Institute of Oncology, P.O. Box 47, PL-00973, Warsaw 22, Poland

    Janusz J. Szymendera M.D., D.Sc., Marek P. Nowacki M.D., Andrzej W. Szawlowski M.D. & Janina A. Kamińska Ph.D.

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  1. Janusz J. Szymendera M.D., D.Sc.
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  2. Marek P. Nowacki M.D.
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  3. Andrzej W. Szawlowski M.D.
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  4. Janina A. Kamińska Ph.D.
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Supported by grant PR-6/0209 awarded by the Polish National Cancer Program. Also aided by the National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHEW, under the US-Poland Cancer Program.

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Szymendera, J.J., Nowacki, M.P., Szawlowski, A.W. et al. Predictive value of plasma CEA levels: Preoperative prognosis and postoperative monitoring of patients with colorectal carcinoma. Dis Colon Rectum 25, 46–52 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02553548

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02553548

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