title: [The value of tumor markers in colorectal cancer].
abstract: In 137 patients with colorectal carcinoma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was preoperatively measured in serum. Sensitivity of CEA was dependant on the tumor stage. Patients in early tumor stages (TNM stages I + II) demonstrated only in 10% grossly elevated CEA levels compared with 43% of patients with progressive tumor stages (TNM III + IV). The main importance of tumor markers lies still in postoperative follow-up. In patients with a local recurrence of colorectal carcinoma we measured in 57% CEA levels greater than 10ng/ml, in patients with distant metastases even in 75%. CA 19-9 achieved a lower sensitivity in postoperative follow-up of colorectal carcinoma than CEA. Only 22% of patients with a recurrence of colorectal carcinoma had CA 19-9 levels beyond the normal range (37 U/ml) compared with 67% elevated CEA levels in the same group of patients. CEA is still the most important tumor marker in colorectal carcinoma. Measurement of CA 19-9 in postoperative follow-up is no substitute for CEA, it can only be a supplement.
authors.affiliation: Chirurgische Universitätsklinik Köln.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grundmann
mesh_terms: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen
vernacular_title: Wertigkeit von Tumormarkern beim kolorektalen Karzinom.