Biomaterial Database

Value of carcinoembryonic antigen in the management of colorectal cancer. 1994

J Y Wang, and R Tang, and J M Chiang

Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE The practical value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assay in the management of colorectal cancer after surgery is controversial. The value of CEA in the management of colorectal cancer was reviewed and discussed to justify the use of CEA assay in the management of colorectal cancer. METHODS A retrospective study was performed on 318 patients who underwent resection by one surgeon (JYW) between 1981 and 1986 and who were followed for a minimum of 5 years or until death. RESULTS The incidence of preoperative CEA levels > 5 ng/ml in Dukes Stages A, B, C, and D were 0, 32, 48, and 79 percent, respectively. Five-year survival rates for groups with CEA levels < or = 5 ng/ml and > 5 ng/ml were 85 percent and 55 percent (P < 0.05), respectively, in Dukes Stage B patients and 64 percent and 37 percent (P < 0.05) in Stage C patients. The sensitivity and specificity of postoperative CEA monitoring in detecting recurrent diseases were 66 percent and 94 percent, respectively, for patients with a preoperative CEA value < or = 5 ng/ml and 97 percent and 88 percent for patients with a higher preoperative CEA value. CONCLUSIONS CEA is still the best tumor marker available to be used as an independent prognostic factor and as a monitor for recurrence of disease after primary tumor resection.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009362	Neoplasm Metastasis	The transfer of a neoplasm from one organ or part of the body to another remote from the primary site.	Metastase,Metastasis,Metastases, Neoplasm,Metastasis, Neoplasm,Neoplasm Metastases,Metastases
D009364	Neoplasm Recurrence, Local	The local recurrence of a neoplasm following treatment. It arises from microscopic cells of the original neoplasm that have escaped therapeutic intervention and later become clinically visible at the original site.	Local Neoplasm Recurrence,Local Neoplasm Recurrences,Locoregional Neoplasm Recurrence,Neoplasm Recurrence, Locoregional,Neoplasm Recurrences, Local,Recurrence, Local Neoplasm,Recurrence, Locoregional Neoplasm,Recurrences, Local Neoplasm,Locoregional Neoplasm Recurrences,Neoplasm Recurrences, Locoregional,Recurrences, Locoregional Neoplasm
D009367	Neoplasm Staging	Methods which attempt to express in replicable terms the extent of the neoplasm in the patient.	Cancer Staging,Staging, Neoplasm,Tumor Staging,TNM Classification,TNM Staging,TNM Staging System,Classification, TNM,Classifications, TNM,Staging System, TNM,Staging Systems, TNM,Staging, Cancer,Staging, TNM,Staging, Tumor,System, TNM Staging,Systems, TNM Staging,TNM Classifications,TNM Staging Systems
D011182	Postoperative Care	The period of care beginning when the patient is removed from surgery and aimed at meeting the patient's psychological and physical needs directly after surgery. (From Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed)	Care, Postoperative,Postoperative Procedures,Procedures, Postoperative,Postoperative Procedure,Procedure, Postoperative
D011237	Predictive Value of Tests	In screening and diagnostic tests, the probability that a person with a positive test is a true positive (i.e., has the disease), is referred to as the predictive value of a positive test; whereas, the predictive value of a negative test is the probability that the person with a negative test does not have the disease. Predictive value is related to the sensitivity and specificity of the test.	Negative Predictive Value,Positive Predictive Value,Predictive Value Of Test,Predictive Values Of Tests,Negative Predictive Values,Positive Predictive Values,Predictive Value, Negative,Predictive Value, Positive
D011300	Preoperative Care	Care given during the period prior to undergoing surgery when psychological and physical preparations are made according to the special needs of the individual patient. This period spans the time between admission to the hospital to the time the surgery begins. (From Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed)	Care, Preoperative,Preoperative Procedure,Preoperative Procedures,Procedure, Preoperative,Procedures, Preoperative
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D002272	Carcinoembryonic Antigen	A glycoprotein that is secreted into the luminal surface of the epithelia in the gastrointestinal tract. It is found in the feces and pancreaticobiliary secretions and is used to monitor the response to colon cancer treatment.	Antigens, CD66e,CD66e Antigen,Antigen, CD66e,Antigen, Carcinoembryonic,CD66e Antigens
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man