title: Carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with breast or colon cancer.
abstract: The rationale and results of clinical use of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tests in patients with carcinoma of the breast and colon deserve review. Plasma CEA levels have been found to correlate with the extent of tumor invasion and site of metastatic spread, and CEA titers have diagnostic and prognostic value. Although postresectional serial CEA testing is not as useful in cases of breast carcinoma, in cases of carcinoma of the colon it may indicate recurrence or progression of the lesion. However, there are limitations and CEA results should be interpreted in conjunction with other clinical information.
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000601:surgery; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen