Changing pattern of tumor markers in recurrent colorectal cancer patients before surgery to recurrence: serum p53 antibodies, CA19-9 and CEA

Background The clinical impact of monitoring serum p53 antibodies, carbohydrate antigen19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with colorectal cancer has not been fully evaluated. Methods A total of 420 surgically treated stage II/III colorectal cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 101 patients developed disease recurrence. The prognostic impact of preoperative and recurrence levels of serum p53 antibodies, carbohydrate antigen19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen status was evaluated. Results Although preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen- and carbohydrate antigen19-9-positive status was significantly associated with recurrence, preoperative serum p53 antibody levels were not. Among two marker combinations, carcinoembryonic antigen + serum p53 antibodies showed the highest positive rate at recurrence. Although carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen19-9 frequently converted from preoperative-negative status to positive status at recurrence, serum p53 antibodies converted to positive status in only one patient. Carcinoembryonic antigen- and carbohydrate antigen19-9-positive status were significant prognostic factors for overall survival after recurrence, but the presence of serum p53 antibodies at recurrence was not. Conclusions Postoperative serum p53 antibody status should only be followed in patients with preoperative-positive status. Carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen19-9 should be followed even in preoperative-negative patients. Unlike carcinoembryonic antigen- and carbohydrate antigen19-9-positive status, serum p53 antibody-positive status as recurrence was not a poor prognostic indicator.