血清CEA、CYFAR21-1、SCC、CA125水平对晚期非小细胞肺癌放疗疗效的评估价值

目的探讨血清肿瘤标志物水平对晚期非小细胞肺癌患者放疗疗效的评估价值。方法将晚期非小细胞肺癌患者共176例,分为观察组(近期放疗有效)和对照组(近期放疗无效),采用电化学发光法检测放疗前、后血清肿瘤CEA、CYFAR21-1、SCC、CA125水平。结果 176例患者放疗有效率为58.0%,观察组放疗前血清CEA、CYFAR21-1、SCC、CA125水平分别为(33.65±5.41)ng/ml、(19.44±3.14)ng/ml、(16.87±2.74)ng/ml、(46.81±5.49)U/ml,放疗后各项标志物水平分别为(25.13±4.65)ng/ml、(12.35±4.18)ng/ml、(11.77±3.04)ng/ml、(39.67±4.63)U/ml,均明显低于放疗前,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);对照组放疗前血清肿瘤标志物CEA、CYFAR21-1、SCC、CA125水平分别为(46.87±5.93)ng/ml、(28.63±10.82)ng/ml、(26.46±8.68)ng/ml、(68.16±7.38)U/ml,放疗后各项标志物水平分别为(52.17±5.49)ng/ml、(46.72±11.75)ng/ml、(38.74±63.48)ng/ml、(87.34±8.16)U/ml,均明显高于放疗前,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);观察组放疗前各项标志物水平均低于对照组,差异显著(P<0.05);对照组放疗后标志物水平降低患者的近期疗效明显好于放疗后血清肿瘤标志物水平升高者,差异有统计学意义(χ2=76.45,P<0.05)。结论肿瘤血清肿瘤标志物CEA、CYFAR21-1、SCC、CA125的水平对晚期非小细胞肺癌患者放疗疗效具有评估价值。     

消化道疾病患者血浆癌胚抗原的临床研究

用Roche癌胚抗原(即CEA,下同)检定法,测定340例消化道疾病患者并对照100例正常人血浆的CEA含量,结果后者的正常范围为2.6～5.0 ng/ml。消化系统非恶性肿瘤患者177例中,有146例(82.5%)血浆CEA值在正常范围(≤5.0 ng/ml);而CEA含量在5.0 ng/ml以上的31例(17.5%)中,24例为5.1～10.0 ng/ml;7例超过10 ng/ml(10.1～20.0 ng/ml)者,均为肝病患者(慢性肝炎5例,肝硬化、暴发性肝炎各1例)。     

局部晚期直肠癌术前同期放化疗达pCR者预后分析

目的 分析与局部晚期直肠癌患者术前放化疗后达pCR相关的临床因素。方法 搜集2005—2012年间经活检证实并neo-CRT (放疗采用3DCRT、VMAT)及根治性切除的临床资料完整的局部晚期直肠癌297例,采用Logistic回归模型多因素分析年龄、性别、肿瘤距肛门距离、疗前血清CEA水平、疗前血红蛋白、cT分期、cN分期与pCR是否相关。结果 全组疗后达pCR者78例(26.7%),T₁—T₃期者达42例(34.4%),T₄期者达37例(21.1%)。疗前CEA≤5.33 ng/ml疗后达pCR者55例(36.4%),CEA>5.33 ng/ml仅24例(16.4%)。单因素分析年龄、性别、肿瘤距肛门距离、疗前是否贫血和cN分期与pCR无关。多因素分析cT₁—T₃期、疗前CEA≤5.33 ng/ml是影响局部晚期直肠癌neo-CRT后是否达pCR的影响因素(P=0.031、0.000)。结论 临床分期、疗前血清CEA水平是影响局部晚期直肠癌neo-CRT后是否达pCR的影响因素;疗前血清CEA水平可作为局部晚期直肠癌neo-CRT后是否达pCR的筛选指标之一。     

EGFR-TKI治疗对NSCLC患者血清CEA的影响

目的 探讨表皮生长因子受体酪氨酸激酶抑制剂(EGFR-TKI)治疗对非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者血清癌胚抗原(CEA)的影响.方法 选取NSCLC患者81例,均接受EGFR-TKI治疗,监测患者治疗前后的CEA水平.结果 完全缓解(CR)+部分缓解(PR)患者治疗后的CEA水平低于治疗前(P﹤0.05);进展(PD)患者治疗后的CEA水平高于治疗前(P﹤0.05);稳定(SD)患者治疗前后的CEA水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P﹥0.05);CR+PR患者治疗前的CEA水平高于SD和PD患者(P﹤0.05);不同年龄、性别、吸烟史、组织类型、临床分期和治疗药物的NSCLC患者的近期疗效比较,差异无统计学意义(P﹥0.05);基线CEA≥5 ng/ml患者的近期疗效优于基线CEA﹤5 ng/ml的患者(P﹤0.05);基线CEA≥5 ng/ml组患者的中位无疾病进展时间为16.61个月(95%CI:12.22~20.43个月),长于基线CEA﹤5 ng/ml组患者的9.82个月(95%CI:5.21~14.40个月)(P﹤0.05).结论 血清CEA监测有助于判断NSCLC患者EGFR-TKI治疗效果,CEA治疗前高水平可能预示靶向药物治疗效果好.     

用酶免疫测定法检测原发性肺癌的癌胚抗原(CEA)和甲胎蛋白(AFP)

本文介绍用酶免疫夹心法检查原发性肺癌病人血清中癌胚抗原(CEA)和甲胎蛋白(AFP)含量。以特制玻珠为载体,经戊二醛等处理,使纯化抗体与之结合。用已纯化兔抗人CEA和AFP的抗体分别与辣根过氧化物酶结合制得酶标抗体。以邻笨二胺为底物,显色后,用分光光度计进行定量。原发性肺癌42例中血清CEA>5ng/ml者29例(69%)。作为对照组的肺部炎症25例中8例(32%)CEA>5ng/ml,但均在8ng/ml以下。正常人46例有3例(6.5%)CEA值>5ng/ml。用猪苓多糖及化疗治疗的23例患者作了CEA的动态观察,其中18例(78%)CEA水平和疗效一致。从CEA水平波动可以反映临床治疗效果,并监测预后。肺癌30例中仅2例血清AFP>2ng/ml。     

非小细胞肺癌患者化疗前后血清癌胚抗原细胞角蛋白19片段和糖类抗原125的变化

目的探讨晚期非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者化疗前后血清癌胚抗原(CEA)、细胞角蛋白19片段(CYFRA21-1)和糖类抗原(CA125)的变化。方法选取2013年8月至2015年8月间辽宁省本溪市本钢总医院经病理以及细胞学诊断证实的NSCLC患者42例为研究组,化疗前采用酶联免疫法测定患者血清CEA、CYFRA21-1和CA125表达水平,化疗治疗结束3周后再次测定患者血清中CEA、CYFRA21-1和CA125表达水平变化,并行胸部CT检查,根据结果分为化疗有效者(完全缓解+部分缓解)和无效者(病情稳定+疾病进展)。选取同期来院体检的42例健康者为对照组,均排除肺部疾病,与研究组患者血清中CEA、CYFRA21-1和CA125水平变化进行比较。结果研究组患者化疗前血清CEA、CYFRA21-1和CA125水平分别为(38.78±10.37)ng/ml、(3.51±1.37)ng/ml和(37.22±15.39)U/ml,对照组患者分别为(1.86±0.47)ng/ml、(2.0±0.11)ng/ml和(20.1±15.7)U/ml,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。研究组患者化疗前血清CEA、CYFRA21-1和CA125在化疗有效组和无效组中无显著统计学意义(P<0.05)。化疗后血清CEA、CYFRA21-1和CA125在治疗有效组明显低于化疗前,有显著统计学意义(P<0.05);在无效组化疗后血清CEA、CYFRA21-1和CA125表达水平与化疗前相比差异不大,无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论对临床NSCLC患者进行血清CEA、CYFRA21-1和CA125检测,可有效评估患者临床疗效及预后,为临床NSCLC化疗疗效提供标准依据。     

晚期非小细胞肺癌患者靶向治疗效果及血清肿瘤标志物变化分析

目的 探讨血清肿瘤标志物癌胚抗原(CEA)、细胞角蛋白19片段(CA211)与晚期非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)患者靶向治疗效果及预后的关系.方法 选取晚期NSCLC患者82例,所有患者均接受靶向药物治疗,治疗结束后评价近期疗效,并在治疗前及治疗后2个月对患者血清CEA与CA211水平进行检测,比较不同组织学类型晚期NSCLC患者血清CEA、CA211水平,分析治疗前后不同疗效晚期NSCLC患者血清CEA、CA211水平,并分析血清CEA、CA211水平与晚期NSCLC患者生存期的关系.结果 82例患者靶向治疗的总有效率为43.90％;腺癌患者血清CEA水平明显高于鳞癌患者(P﹤0.01),CA211水平明显低于鳞癌患者(P﹤0.01);治疗后,PR组患者血清CEA、CA211水平均较治疗前降低(P﹤0.05);治疗后,PR组患者血清CEA、CA211水平均低于治疗后SD、PD组患者(P﹤0.05);治疗后,PD组患者血清CEA、CA211水平均较治疗前升高(P﹤0.05).血清CEA水平﹤15 ng/ml、血清CA211水平﹤5 ng/ml患者的PFS大于血清CEA水平≥15 ng/ml、血清CA211水平≥5 ng/mL的患者(P﹤0.05).结论 不同近期疗效晚期NSCLC患者血清CEA、CA211水平存在较大差异,血清CEA、CA211水平对预测晚期NSCLC患者靶向治疗效果及预后具有重要的参考价值.     

化疗对晚期胃癌TAM、CEA、CA72-4的影响及意义

目的 探索化疗对晚期胃癌TAM、CEA、CA72-4的影响及临床意义.方法 应用电化学免疫发光法对49例胃癌患者化疗前后血清中CEA、CA72-4进行检测；应用生化法对其血清TAM进行检测,并均与健康对照组进行比较.结果 晚期胃癌患者化疗后血清中TAM、CEA、CA72-4分别为(99.00±17.00) u/ml、(24.17±7.54)ng/ml、(48.44±17.36) u/ml；健康对照组分别为(70.00±12.00)u/ml、(4.24±1.28)ng/ml、(5.49±1.89)u/ml,两组差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.01)；亚组分析显示化疗有效的病例(PR+ SD)化疗前后TAM分别为(123.00±21.00) u/ml、(97.00±16.00)u/ml; CEA、CA72-4化疗前分别为(25.80±2.57) ng/ml、(47.69±13.19) u/ml,化疗后分别为(21.56±7.87) ng/ml、(38.47±14.23)u/ml,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).临床进展的病例(PD)化疗前TAM、CEA分别为(1 1 7.00±18.00) u/ml和(21.34±5.68) ng/ml,化疗后分别为(14000±17.00) u/ml和(30.94±8.79) ng/ml,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);CA72-4化疗前后分别为(41.78±11.99) u/ml和(50.34±17.06) u/ml,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 TAM、CEA、CA72 4的联合检测可作为一种评价化疗效果的早期预测指标.     

肿瘤标志物CA125和CEA联合检测在非小细胞肺癌诊治中的临床意义

目的　研究CA12 5和CEA联合检测在非小细胞肺癌 (NSCLC)诊治中的临床意义。方法　NSCLC患者 112例 ,男 6 4例 ,女 4 8例。其中腺癌 5 6例 ,鳞癌 32例 ,大细胞或其他类型 2 4例。以CA12 5 >35U/ml,CEA >15ng/ml为阳性结果。结果　CA12 5和CEA水平随着病情程度分级的增加而增加 ,化疗后CA12 5和CEA有一定程度的下降。结论　CA12 5和CEA是疾病程度的预测指标 ,CEA、CA12 5联合检测在肺癌诊治中有互相补充作用。     

癌胚抗原与血清铁蛋白检测在肺癌患者中的比较

目的探讨癌胚抗原(CEA)与血清铁蛋白(SF)检测在肺癌中的比较.方法回顾分析48例肺癌伴转移患者组及46例肺癌患者的癌胚抗原及血清铁蛋白水平.结果 CEA在肺癌伴转移组值为(69.31±46.94) ng/ml;肺癌组值为(56.55±24.13) ng/ml,两组CEA值均高于正常值,但两组差异无显著性意义(P＞0.05).SF在肺癌伴转移组值为(1026.06±473.94) ng/ml;在肺癌组值为(378.62±257.38) ng/ml,肺癌伴转移组SF值明显高于肺癌组(P＜0.001),差异具有显著性.结论肺癌患者SF的检测较CEA检测对明确有无转移病灶有更好的辅助意义.     

The value of carcinoembryonic antigens in patients with advanced lung cancer: in relation to chemotherapy

The serum carcinoembryonic antigens (CEA) levels in 177 advanced lung cancer patients were studied to assess their value for the prognosis and indicating the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The relationship of pretreatment CEA levels with histology and stage of disease was also examined. Levels in excess of 5 ng/ml and 20 ng/ml were found in 55% and 32% of lung cancer patients, respectively. The elevated CEA levels were more frequently observed in patients with adenocarcinoma (65% in excess of 5 ng/ml) and extensive disease, but pretreatment CEA levels were not significantly correlated with the histology and clinical stage of disease. In 102 patients with adenocarcinoma, there was no significant difference of survival time in each patient with CEA levels less than 5 ng/ml, 5.0 less than or equal to - less than 20 ng/ml and in excess of 20 ng/ml; median survival time was 7, 7, 8 mo, respectively, and response to chemotherapy was not significant in each of these groups. Serial serum CEA measurements in patients with pretreatment levels in excess of 20 ng/ml correlated well with changes in disease status reflecting clinical response to chemotherapy. Mean percent changes of CEA levels to pretreatment levels were-77.4% in patients with partial response (PR), -55.6% in those with minor response (MR), -4.0% in patients with no change (NC) and +79.0% in patients showing progressive disease (PD). There was a significant difference in the percent changes of CEA levels between patients with an objective response (PR) and patients who had none (MR + NC) (p less than 0.02). CEA levels of all patients who had PD increased or unchanged. Serial measurements of serum CEA are useful in patients whose pretreatment levels are more than 20 ng/ml for monitoring the response to chemotherapy, and may be a useful noninvasive technique for patients with unmeasurable disease as a monitor of tumor burden in response to chemotherapy and recurrent disease.     

Prognostic value of pretreatment carcinoembryonic antigen, neuron-specific enolase, and creatine kinase-BB levels in sera of patients with small cell lung cancer

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and the BB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-BB) were evaluated before therapy in the sera of 195 patients with histologically confirmed small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in a prospective multicenter trial. Forty-four percent (84 of 193) of all patients had CEA levels higher than 5 ng/ml, 66% (111 of 168) had NSE levels higher than 12.5 ng/ml, and 32% (40 of 123) had CK-BB levels higher than 10 ng/ml. Clear pathologic levels were less frequently observed. Significantly higher pretreatment titers for CEA, NSE, and CK-BB were found in patients with bone marrow and/or liver metastases. The most elevated marker levels were observed in the group of nonresponding patients with bone marrow and/or liver metastases. Only a slight correlation between the pretreatment CEA level and survival time could be observed. Patients with pathologic NSE (greater than or equal to 30 ng/ml) levels and, in particular, those with pathologic CK-BB (greater than or equal to 25 ng/ml) levels had a significantly shorter median survival than those with normal or elevated levels. In addition, a positive linear correlation between pretreatment NSE and CK-BB (n = 116, r = 0.54) levels was found, but CEA levels did not correlate with other marker levels. From these data it is concluded that pretreatment CEA, NSE, and CK-BB levels are helpful in the clinical management of a subset of patients with SCLC, i.e., those with bone marrow and/or liver metastases.     

Colorectal cancer patients with high risk of hematogenous metastasis: correlation with CEA levels in peripheral and draining venous blood during the period of operation

Correlations between carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels of peripheral (p) and draining (d) venous blood during the period of operation, and pre- and post-operatively detected hematogenous metastases were examined in 78 patients with colorectal cancer. The metastases were found in 28 patients (HM group), but not found in the other 50 patients (non-HM group). The mean values (43 and 198 ng/ml) and positive rates (61 and 96%) greater than 5 ng/ml of p- and d-CEA levels in the HM group were significantly higher than those (6 and 14 ng/ml, and 22 and 48%, respectively) in the non-HM group. The differences (mean 184 ng/ml and positive rate 49%) of d-CEA levels between both groups were more significant than those (39 ng/ml and 30%) of p-CEA levels. The mean value (155 ng/ml) and positive rate (82%) greater than 5 ng/ml of the gradient between d- and p-CEA levels (d-p CEA gradient) in the HM group were significantly higher than those (8 ng/ml and 34%) in the non-HM group. These results suggest that patients with a high risk of hematogenous metastases are more effectively checked by the determination of d-CEA levels and d-p CEA gradient than of p-CEA levels, and that they are patients with positive d-CEA and d-p CEA gradient levels.     

Serial plasma carcinoembryonic antigen measurement for monitoring patients with advanced lung cancer during chemotherapy

The plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in 243 patients with untreated advanced lung cancer were studied to assess their value for prognosis and for indicating the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Of patients with adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma, 43%, 24%, 7%, and 13%, respectively, had elevated CEA levels of 20 ng/ml or greater before treatment. Pretreatment CEA levels were elevated to above 20 ng/ml for 38% of 163 patients with extensive disease and for 22% of 80 patients with limited disease (P less than 0.02). In patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung, the pretreatment CEA levels were not correlated with response to chemotherapy and patients' survival. Serial measurement of plasma CEA was a useful noninvasive technique for monitoring the response to chemotherapy in patients whose pretreatment levels were 20 ng/ml or higher. All of 18 patients with complete or partial responses and 5 of 6 patients with minor responses showed greater than 36% decrease in the CEA level compared with the pretreatment level. In all of nine patients with progressive disease, the CEA levels increased after chemotherapy. Therefore, an increase of greater than 36% beyond the baseline level was a useful guideline criterion for a significant change for determination of tumor response to chemotherapy, although 41% of 22 patients with stable disease exceeded the pretreatment level by 36% or more in either direction (mean percent change +/- standard deviation, -4.1% +/- 52.2%), and 4 of 9 patients with progressive disease did not have levels greater than 36% above the baseline levels.     

Plasma CEA levels in small cell lung cancer. Correlation with stage, distribution of metastases, and survival

Plasma CEA levels were determined in 61 patients with small cell lung cancer entering chemotherapy protocols between 1976 and 1980. Five quantitative categories were determined: less than 2.5 ng/ml (the standard normal for Hansen assay); 2.6-5.0 ng/ml (the extended normal for smokers); 5.1-20.0 ml; (the intermediate elevation and the transition for the indirect to the direct assay); 20-100 ng/ml; and greater than 100 ng/ml. Forty-seven percent of patients had levels less than 5 ng/ml and only ten of 61 or 16% had levels greater than 20 ng/ml. There was no clearcut relationship of plasma CEA level to stage of disease, in that 40% of patients with extensive disease (32 patients) had levels less than 5 ng/ml and 45% of patients with limited disease (29 patients) had levels greater than 5 ng/ml. Similarly, there was no relationship of CEA level to site of metastases, although levels greater than 100 ng/ml were always associated with liver metastases. The median survival for each quantitative category was similar, ranging from seven to nine months. The use of sequential determinations of CEA to correlate with tumor response was studied in only eight patients with levels greater than 20 ng/ml and a measurable parameter of disease. The qualitative direction of change of CEA was appropriate in those patients responding to treatment but in three nonresponding patients the direction of CEA change paradoxically decreased. In five patients who developed progressive disease, the plasma CEA level predicted the clinical relapse. CEA as a tumor marker for oat cell carcinoma must be applied in conjunction with other tumor parameters and is meaningful in only a small proportion of the total small cell patient population.     

Predictive value of plasma CEA in patients with colorectal carcinoma

Two years follow-up of 46 patients with colorectal carcinoma resected "for cure" shows that of the nine patients with an elevated (less than 5 ng/ml) CEA plasma titer one to six months after surgery, only one, or 11%, had remained disease free. Of the 38 patients with normal (less than 5 ng/ml) plasma CEA, 27, or 71%, were free of disease two years after surgery. In another 85 patients presenting six months to ten years after resection "for cure" of their colorectal carcinoma, normal CEA levels were found in 73, and only five, or 6.4%, of these presented with disease progression when followed for two years; of the 12 patients that presented with CEA values less than 5 ng/ml, disease progression was evident in eight or 67%; in eight patients with CEA levels of greater than 10 ng/ml, the proportion of patients with disease progression increased to 87.5% (7/8). When a patient with a history of colorectal cancer, but seemingly free of disease, presents with levels not only repeatedly above normal (greater than 5 ng/ml) but above the levels found in some nonmalignant conditions (greater than 10 ng/ml), thorough re-examination of the patient to locate the site of possible disease progression is indicated. In 14 such patients further diagnostic methods showed local recurrences in four, metastasis limited to the liver in six, and other metastasis in four. In conclusion, in patients with colorectal carcinoma postoperative elevated CEA plasma levels are a sign of poor prognosis. Consistently elevated CEA levels (greater than 10 ng/ml) are a strong indication of disease progression.     

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Levels in Pleural Effusions and Sera of Lung Cancer Patients

For determining the value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)levels in diagnosis of malignant tumors of the lung, the CEAlevels in 187 specimens of pleural fluid and sera obtained simultaneouslyfrom patients with pleural fluid were measured. In all 70 patientswith benign diseases, the CEA levels in the effusions were lessthan the cut-off value of 5 ng/ml (mean±SD: 1.44±1.01ng/ml). In contrast, in 88 of 117 patients (75.2%) with malignantdiseases, the CEA levels in the effusions were over 5 ng/ml(25.3±24.5 ng/ml) and in 58 of the 117 patients (50.4%),the CEA levels in the serum were values of 5 ng/ml or more (11.9±18.4ng/ml). There was a significant correlation between the CEAlevels in the effusions and in the sera. The CEA levels in effusionsin patients with malignant lung tumors were usually much higherthan those in their sera. The incidence of CEA levels of 5 ng/mlor more in both the serum and effusion was highest in the patientswith adenocarcinoma. These data indicate that determination of the CEA level in effusions,when done in combination with cytological examinations, mayhave additional value in diagnosis of lung cancer.     

Tumor markers in breast cancer: on the diagnostic value of serum determinations in clinical freedom from tumor and manifest disease

We have analyzed 1301 serum determinations of the tumor markers CA 15-3 and CEA in 405 breast cancer patients. CA 15-3 exhibited a higher accuracy than CEA (sensitivity-specificity diagram). Using cut-off levels of 30 U/ml (CA 15-3) and 5 ng/ml (CEA) we observed a sensitivity of 70.7% versus 61.8% and an approximate specificity of 93.8% versus 83.4%. The sensitivity of the panel of both markers was 80.9%, the specificity 84.5%. The high specificity of both markers caused high positive predictive values. The marker expression was higher in patients with hematogenic metastasis than with local recurrences (the median for CA 15-3 levels was 88.2 U/ml versus 26.6 U/ml; for CEA: 10.0 ng/ml versus 2.5 ng/ml). Less expression of both markers in patients younger than 40 years in comparison to patients older than 40 seems to be remarkable. Early detection of relapse - a marker increase over the cut-off level before clinical proof - was observed in 43.8% (CA 15-3; median of leadtime 6.1 months) of 73 patients; CEA: 24.7%, 7.2 months. Metastasis was predicted 3-6 times more often than local recurrences. Monitoring of the manifest more or less progressed tumor is still the main task of present tumor markers. But the results also suggesting the use of these markers for early detection of metastasis, especially in panels.     

Carcinoembryonic antigen levels of peripheral and draining venous blood in patients with colorectal cancer. Correlation with survival.

Correlations between preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels of peripheral (p-CEA) and draining blood (d-CEA), the CEA gradient between d-CEA and p-CEA (d-p CEA gradient) levels, and survival after resection of cancer lesions were examined in 94 patients with colorectal cancer. Survival rates of patients with normal p-CEA and d-CEA levels and d-p CEA gradient levels (less than 5 ng/ml) were significantly better than those of patients with abnormal levels (greater than or equal to 5 ng/ml), and the 5-year survival rates were, respectively, 62%, 69%, and 72% in the former and 42%, 41%, and 35% in the latter. The differences in the 5-year survival rates between patients with normal and abnormal d-p CEA gradient, d-CEA, and p-CEA levels were 37%, 28%, and 20%, respectively. Furthermore, the positive rates of d-CEA levels (64%) and d-p CEA gradient levels (48%) were higher than that of p-CEA levels (36%). However, some significant differences in background variables also were found between the respective groups of patients with normal and abnormal p-CEA and d-CEA levels and d-p CEA gradient levels. These results suggest that patients with poor prognoses are examined more effectively by determining their d-p CEA gradient and d-CEA levels than their p-CEA levels, and that CEA may be expressed as a quantitative sum total of various pathophysiologic variables of patients with colorectal cancer but not as an independent prognostic variable.     

Comparison of carcinoembryonic antigen levels between portal and peripheral blood in patients with colorectal cancer. Correlation with histopathologic variables

Correlation between carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels of peripheral and portal blood, and eight histopathologic variables, was examined in 66 patients with colorectal cancer. The change in CEA levels in the portal blood of 40 patients during operation was also examined in relation to histopathologic variables. CEA levels of portal blood (with a mean of 26.6 ng/ml and positive rate greater than 5 ng/ml, 59.1%) were significantly higher than those of peripheral blood (8.1 ng/ml, 33.3%). Elevation of CEA levels in portal and peripheral blood was most highly correlated with the venous invasion. Although the levels in the portal blood were related to six other histopathologic variables including tumor size, tumor differentiation, node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, invasive layer of the colorectal wall, and Dukes' classification except tumor location. CEA levels rose from 19.4 ng/ml and 40% to 43.6 ng/ml and 90.2% respectively following operative stimuli to cancer lesions with venous invasion. However, the levels did not rise in the lesions without the invasion. CEA levels of peripheral blood were as low as 5 ng/ml in three out of eight patients with liver metastasis. However, the levels in portal blood were much greater than 5 ng/ml in all of the patients. These results suggest that CEA may be hematogenously drained by the portal system via the draining vein from the cancer cells in the invasive veins but not by the thoracic duct of the lymphatic system.