Combination of D‐dimer and carcinoembryonic antigen levels as a predictive and prognostic biomarker in advanced colorectal cancer patients

In view of the controversial findings on the utility of D‐dimer and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as biomarkers in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), we evaluated the predictive and prognostic value of the D‐dimer and CEA levels in unresectable advanced CRC patients treated with first‐line chemotherapy. A total of 57 previously untreated patients with advanced CRC were enrolled. We assessed both plasma D‐dimer and CEA levels at the start (D1 and CEA1) and after two cycles (D2 and CEA2) of chemotherapy. Based on the respective optimal cut‐off values of 0.8 and 5.0 ng/mL for D1 and CEA1, respectively, patients were divided into low and high D‐dimer or CEA groups. The results show that D1 and CEA1 levels were correlated (r = 0.392, P = 0.003). Mean CEA2 was reduced by 26.24 ng/mL in patients with partial response and stable disease and increased by 165.95 ng/mL in patients with progressive disease relative to the CEA1 level (P