CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA) IN TUMOR TISSUE, SERUM AND URINE IN CASES WITH TUMORS OF THE URINARY TRACT: A Study by Immunohistochemistry and Radioimmunoassay

In order to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic significance of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), an immunohistochemical study, using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method, of localization of CEA on tissue sections in one hundred and forty-six cases with primary tumors of the bladder, ureter, and renal pelvis was performed. In addition, in some of the cases, CEA values in serum, urine, and tumor tissue extract were also examined by radioimmunoassay. The following results were obtained: 1) Immunohistochemically, CEA-positive tumor cells were found in 63 of 127 transitional cell carcinomas (TCC), 3 of 4 adenocarcinomas, and all of 5 squamous cell carcinomas, but not in any other malignant nor benign tumors. 2) Concerning the primary sites of the tumors, there was no significant difference in the incidence and distribution of CEA-positive tumor cells among TCC of bladder, ureter, and renal pelvis. 3) In TCC, CEA-positivity in the tumor cells correlated significantly to the histological grade (p