Cancer-embryonic antigen in serum

Reference values ​​of the concentration of cancer-embryonic Ag( CEA) in serum - 0-5 ng / ml;for those suffering from alcoholism - 7-10 ng / ml;for smokers - 5-10 ng / ml. The half-life is 14 days.

REA is a glycoprotein that is formed during embryonic development in the digestive tract. The content of REA affects smoking and, to a lesser extent, alcohol consumption. A small increase in the content of CEA is observed in 20-50% of patients with benign diseases of the intestine, pancreas, liver and lungs. The main application of CEA is monitoring the development of the disease and the effectiveness of therapy in patients with colorectal carcinoma. The sensitivity of the test is [Lamertz R. et al., 1991] with:

■ colorectal cancer - 50% at a concentration of more than 7 ng / ml;

■ liver cancer - 33% at a concentration of more than 7 ng / ml;

■ Breast cancer - 28% at a concentration of more than 4.2 ng / ml;

■ gastric cancer - 27% at a concentration of more than 7 ng / ml;

■ lung cancer - 22% at a concentration of more than 7.4 ng / ml.

The serum level of CEA in patients with colon cancer is correlated with the stage of the disease and serves as an indicator of the effectiveness of surgical intervention, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. CEA can be used as an early indicator of relapses and metastases. With untreated malignant tumors, the level of CEA is constantly increasing, and in the initial stage its growth has a pronounced character.

Elevated levels of CEA in the blood can accompany pancreatic cancer. The sensitivity and specificity of CEA for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is 63.3% and 81.7%, respectively. The content of CEA also increases in some patients with pancreatitis, which reduces the value of using this marker.

Elevated REA concentration in the serum is detected in 30-50% of breast cancer patients, in 33-36% of patients with lung cancer. Diseases in which the level of CEA is increased are shown in Table.

Table Diseases and conditions at which the level of CEA increases

Table Diseases and conditions at which the level of CEA increases

The serum CEA content is determined by:

■ for monitoring the course andtreatment of colorectal cancer( increasing the concentration to 20 ng / ml - a diagnostic sign of malignant tumors of different locations).

■ for monitoring of gastrointestinal tract, lung, breast cancer;

■ for early diagnosis of cancer recurrences and metastases;

■ for monitoring in risk groups( cirrhosis, hepatitis, pancreatitis).