Evaluating the significance of expression of CEA mRNA and levels of CEA and its related proteins in colorectal cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical significance of expression of CEA mRNA and serum CEA and the related proteins in colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 370 CRC patients and 350 controls. CEA mRNA was determined by RT-PCR and levels of CEA, CA19-9, CA242, and CA724 were examined with chemiluminescence.


RESULTS
The positive rate of jointly detecting serum CEA, CA19-9, CA242, and CA724 was significantly higher than CEA mRNA expressions (P < 0.01), both positive rates were significantly correlated with TNM stage, lymph node, and visceral metastasis. The positive rate of jointly detecting in patients with poorly differentiated tumor was significantly higher than that in patients with highly differentiated tumor (P < 0.01). By contrast, CEA mRNA expression was not related with histopathologic grading. Postoperative follow-up found that all patients with high levels of CEA mRNA and serum CEA and the related proteins had liver, lung, pelvis, or other distant metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that high expressions of CEA mRNA and high levels of serum CEA and the related proteins are associated with the incidence and advanced of CRC. In addition, joint detection of serum CEA and the related proteins is more sensitivity than examination of serum CEA mRNA.
Wenyuan
W
Wang
Yaoping
Y
Li
Xin
X
Zhang
Jiexian
J
Jing
Xianwen
X
Zhao
Yan
Y
Wang
Cunzhi
C
Han
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C074601:CA 242 antigen; C083825:CA-72-4 antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C578959:carbohydrate antigen 199, human