title: CEA as a prognostic index in colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The carcinoembryonic antigen, CEA, is the tumor marker most used in colorectal patients, principally during follow up after radical surgery. High serum CEA level before surgery is often associated with worse prognosis, in some studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen levels (CEA) and the frequency of recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-three patients with colorectal cancer at Dukes stages A, B or C were evaluated retrospectively. The patients follow up was at least two years or to death. CEA was determined in serum by enzyme immunoassay (Sorin Biomedica), normal value 0.5ng/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Disease recurrence was observed in 32 patients (38.5%), 13 Dukes B and 19 Dukes C. Seventy five per cent of the patients with CEA higher than 10ng/ml relapsed and 80% of the patients without recurrence had normal CEA. Disease recurrence in patients with preoperative elevated CEA occurred during the first year of follow up in 56% of the patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the tumor stage is today the most valuable prognostic variable in colorectal cancer, the preoperative CEA value can provide some additional information in the prognosis of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, UNIFESP-EPM-São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Forones
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Falcão
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen