title: Serial determinations of serum CEA in monitoring management of patients with colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: Serum concentrations were determined serially in two groups of patients with colorectal carcinoma: in 123 after curative resection and in 34 with residual cancer. Of the first group, in 98 serum CEA fluctuated within the normal range or with a 2-fold larger amplitude evidencing effective surgery because only 9 had recurrence; in 25 serum CEA rose persistently from a postoperative nadir indicating relapse, mostly liver metastases. Of the 34 patients with relapse, 3 had clinically and 7 CEA-directed second-look laparotomy; although 7 had operation with curative intent, only 3 remained disease-free. In the second group, there were 26 patients after palliative surgery and 8 during nonsurgical treatment. Serum CEA fluctuated within the normal range in 2 patients in remission and in 3 with progressive cancer, and rose in parallel to cancer progression in 29. Thus, serum CEA within or slightly above the normal range was 88% predictive that the patient might be free of disease or in remission; whereas elevated or rising level indicated disease progression. Accordance between serum CEA and clinical status occurred in 145 of 157 (92%) patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Shuwaikh.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Behbehani
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: al-Naqeeb
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: el-Nas
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: al-Deen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awwad
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: al-Jazzaf
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Nasralla
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Szymendera
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002430:Cecal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen