Preoperative serum levels of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and prognosis in colorectal cancer

To analyze the prognostic value of the preoperative serum levels of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in primary colorectal carcinoma. Preoperative serum levels of CEA were analyzed in 275 colorectal cancer patients, who were followed up for a minimum of 5 years, or until death. The percentage of positivities for the preoperative serum levels of CEA (> 6 ng/ml) was positively and significantly associated with the tumoral stage (A: 10,5%; B: 38,8%; C: 32,2%; y D: 72%; p < 0,0001). In addition, the elevated serum values of the antigen were significantly associated, in the univariate analysis, with short survival in the overall group of patients (p < 0,0001). However, the multivariate analysis only showed an independent prognosis value of the CEA in the subgroup of patients with stage C tumors. Preoperative serum levels of CEA may be useful to predict tumoral extension, and also for the prognosis regarding stage C colorectal cancer patients.