title: CEA and CA 19-9 are still valuable markers for the prognosis of colorectal and gastric cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive effect of preoperative CEA and CA 19-9 levels on the prognosis of colorectal and gastric cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  CEA and CA 19-9 were evaluated preoperatively in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (n=116) and gastric cancer (n=49). Patients with CEA levels <5 ng/mL were classified as CEA Group 1, 5-30 ng/mL as CEA Group 2 and >30 ng/ mL were classified as CEA Group 3. Similarly the patients with a CA 19-9 level <35 U/mL were classified as CA 19-9 Group 1, with 35-100 U/mL as Group 2 and with >100 U/mL as Group and 3. TNM stages and histologic grades were noted according to histopathological reports. Patients with a TNM grade 0 or 1 were classified as Group A, TNM grade 2 patients constituted Group B and TNM grade 3 and 4 patients constituted Group C. Demographic characteristics, tumor locations and blood types of the patients were all recorded and these data were compared with the preoperative CEA and CA19-9 values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation between CA 19-9 levels (>100 U/mL) and TNM stage (in advanced stages) was determined. We also determined a significant correlation between TNM stages and positive vlaues for both CEA and CA 19-9 in colorectal and gastric cancer patients. In comparison between CEA and CA 19-9 levels and age, gender, tumor location, ABO blood group, and tumor histologic grade, no significant correlation was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Positive levels of both CEA and CA 19-9 can be considered to indicate an advanced stage in colorectal and gastric cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Bingol State Hospital, Bingol, Turkey. abdullahsisik@gmail.com
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sisik
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Gurhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bas
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Basak
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Alimoglu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen