title: Carcinoembryonic antigen levels in germ cell tumours.
abstract: Elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) prior to specific treatment was noted in 3% (7/258) of assessable patients with testicular, extragonadal or ovarian germ cell tumours (GCT). In addition, persistently raised CEA was documented in 7% (26/385) of patients during or after cisplatin-based chemotherapy for metastatic GCT. Raised CEA did not appear associated with adverse prognosis. Among patients undergoing resection of residual tumour masses post-chemotherapy, 8 of 36 with mature differentiated teratoma excised had raised CEA compared with only one of 39 patients where no mature teratoma was found. However, CEA levels remained elevated in 6 of the 8 cases despite apparent complete resection of mature teratoma. Elevated CEA in treated GCT patients may be caused by hepatotoxicity from chemotherapy, intercurrent diseases, or other unknown factors. History of cisplatin-based chemotherapy may be a confounding factor in interpreting raised CEA levels. CEA measurements do not help in the management of patients with germ cell tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Hitchins
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rustin
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Newlands
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Begent
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bagshawe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004407:Dysgerminoma / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000097:blood*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen