title: The clinical significance of the pattern of elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in recurrent colorectal cancer.
abstract: Serial serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assays were performed in 148 patients after potentially curative surgery for colorectal cancer. Thirty-seven patients developed proved recurrent tumour in a follow-up period of 2-5 years. Elevated CEA levels were recorded in 36 of these patients and in 27 rising levels preceded clinical symptoms of recurrent tumour. Two distinct patterns of CEA rise were observed: a 'fast' rise in which serum concentrations reached 100 microgram/l within 6 months of the first elevation and a 'slow' rise in which concentrations remained less than 75 microgram/l for at least 12 months. The majority of patients with the 'fast' rise had metastatic spread, whereas most patients with a 'slow' rise had local recurrence alone. This differential pattern may help to predict the site of recurrent tumour.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen