title: Impact of the post/preoperative serum CEA ratio on the survival of patients with rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study demonstrated the usefulness of the post/preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ratio as a predictor of survival after surgery for stage III rectal cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and four patients with stage III rectal cancer who underwent surgery between 1991 and 2000 were enrolled. The ratio of the postoperative serum CEA value divided by the preoperative serum CEA value was defined as post/preoperative serum CEA ratio, and the patients were separated into two groups: post/preoperative serum CEA ratio ≤ 1 (n = 86) and >1 (n = 18).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The multivariate analyses demonstrated that the intraoperative blood loss, lack of a sphincter-saving procedure and a post/preoperative serum CEA ratio >1 were independent factors predicting a poor prognosis for the overall and disease-free survival. The overall and disease-free survival rates among patients with a high preoperative serum CEA level (>5 ng/ml) or patients with a high postoperative serum CEA (>5 ng/ml) were longer in patients with a post/preoperative serum CEA ratio ≤ 1, in comparison to those with a post/preoperative serum CEA ratio >1. Liver metastasis was observed more frequently in patients with a post/preoperative serum CEA ratio >1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The post/preoperative serum CEA ratio may be a predictor of the prognosis after surgery for stage III rectal cancer patients.
authors: Second Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8510, Japan.
authors: Tsukasa
authors: T
authors: Hotta
authors: Katsunari
authors: K
authors: Takifuji
authors: Shozo
authors: S
authors: Yokoyama
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Matsuda
authors: Yoshimasa
authors: Y
authors: Oku
authors: Toru
authors: T
authors: Nasu
authors: Junji
authors: J
authors: Ieda
authors: Naoyuki
authors: N
authors: Yamamoto
authors: Hiromitsu
authors: H
authors: Iwamoto
authors: Yoh
authors: Y
authors: Takei
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Mizumoto
authors: Hiroki
authors: H
authors: Yamaue
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D059035:Perioperative Period; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen