title: Carcinoembryonic antigen surge in metastatic colorectal cancer patients responding to irinotecan combination chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oxaliplatin (OXA)-induced carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) surge was reported to be associated with a clinical benefit. The aim of this study was to investigate the phenomenon of CEA surge in irinotecan-based chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed 132 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Incidence of a CEA surge and chemotherapy efficacy were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven of 99 eligible patients (11.1%) had CEA surges. None of the 11 patients showed progressive disease (four had a partial response, seven had stable disease).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A CEA surge can be induced by irinotecan-based chemotherapy. An early increase in CEA after irinotecan-based chemotherapy does not usually indicate progression of disease and failure of therapy, and should not lead to a change of chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Pei-Rong
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xiao-Juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Zhi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng-Hua
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Wen-Qi
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: You-Jian
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Rui-Hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yu-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin