Preoperative CEA: prognostic significance in colorectal carcinoma

The prognostic meaning of preoperative CEA level and its relation to the other risk factors are still under debate. In 512 patients who underwent surgical treatment for colorectal cancer, CEA preoperative plasma level had been evaluated. The prognostic value of CEA was compared with other prognostic factors and the characteristics of the tumor. There was no significant ratio between CEA overexpression and stage, diameter, grading, ploidy, site and shape of the cancers. As regard as the long-term results are concerned, the patients with normal preoperative CEA levels had a better prognosis. In the Dukes B and C tumors, the level of CEA over the cut off point lets identify a group of patients with high risk whom more aggressive adjuvant therapies and follow up could be addressed to. This study suggests that CEA preoperative is an independent prognostic factor and may be useful in the therapeutic planning.