Carcinoembryonic antigen, alphafetoprotein and alpha and beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin in plasma of children with acute leukaemia

The plasma carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-fetoprotein and the alpha and beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 44 children with acute leukaemia. These markers were determined repeatedly every 3 months at different stages of the disease (at onset, in complete remission, during bone marrow and extramedullary relapse). Elevated CEA levels were present in 64% of children at the onset of acute leukaemia and during bone marrow relapse. Elevated CEA levels decreased during induction treatment and they became normal with attainment of complete remission. In 7/12 patients who developed bone marrow relapse elevated CEA levels and in 4 of them raised levels appeared 3-4 months before there had been any other evidence of relapse. In 6/13 patients with extramedullary relapse, elevated CEA levels were found. AFP, alpha and beta hCG values in different stages of the disease were elevated sporadically; they did not reflect the activity of leukaemia.