Peripheral and mesenteric serum levels of CEA and cytokeratins, staging and histopathological variables in colorectal adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the differences that exist between peripheral and mesenteric serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cytokeratins in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-eight patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery at Hospital Sao Paulo (Discipline of Surgical Gastroenterology of UNIFESP-EPM) between December 1993 and March 2000 were retrospectively analyzed. Differences between CEA and cytokeratin (TPA-M) levels in peripheral blood (P) and in mesenteric blood (M) were studied. Associations were investigated between peripheral and mesenteric levels and the staging and histopathological variables (degree of cell differentiation, macroscopic appearance, tumor dimensions and presence of lymphatic and venous invasion).


RESULTS
Differences were observed in the numerical values of the marker levels: CEA (M) (39.10 mg/L +/- 121.19 mg/L) vs CEA (P) (38.5 mg/L +/- 122.55 mg/L), P < 0.05; TPA-M (M) (325.06 U/L +/- 527.29 U/L) vs TPA-M (P) (279.48 U/L +/- 455.81 U/L), P < 0.01. The mesenteric CEA levels were higher in more advanced tumors (P < 0.01), in vegetating lesions (34.44 mg/L +/- 93.07 mg/L) (P < 0.01) and with venous invasion (48.41 mg/L +/- 129.86 mg/L) (P < 0.05). Peripheral CEA was higher with more advanced staging (P < 0.01) and in lesions with venous invasion (53.23 mg/L +/- 158.57 mg/L) (P < 0.05). The patients demonstrated increased mesenteric and peripheral TPA-M levels with more advanced tumors (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01) and in non-ulcerated lesions [530.45 U/L +/- 997.46 U/L (P < 0.05) and 457.95 U/L +/- 811.36 U/L (P < 0.01)].


CONCLUSIONS
The mesenteric levels of the tumor markers CEA and cytokeratins were higher than the peripheral levels in these colorectal adenocarcinoma patients. Higher levels of these biologic tumor markers are associated with an advanced state of cancerous dissemination.
Ivankovics
Ivan-Gregorio
IG
Discipline of Surgical Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Federal University of Sao Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Abilio Soares 1160, Apto. 11 Paraiso Sao Paulo-SP 04005-004, Brazil.
Fernandes
Luis-Cesar
LC
Saad
Sarhan-Sydeney
SS
Matos
Delcio
D
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D007633:Keratins