Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · South Asian J Cancer 2022; 11(02): 118-120
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731902
Original Article
Gastrointestinal Cancer

Role of Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Predicting Recurrent Disease following Curative Resection of Rectal Cancer

Srikanth Soma
1   Department of Surgical Oncology, Chalmeda Anand Rao Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Karimnagar, Telangana, India
,
Sachin Gurnule
2   Department of Community Medicine, Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana, India
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Zoom Image
Srikanth Soma

Introduction Surveillance of patients following definitive treatment of rectal malignancy is based on the predicament that early detection of recurrence may provide an opportunity for cure. Available methods for monitoring include clinical, radiological, and serum tests. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of CEA in detecting recurrences.

Materials and Methods Retrospective analysis of patients with adenocarcinoma rectum treated with curative intent between 2012 to 2020 at our institute was performed. Postoperatively, patients were followed with CEA measurements according to our institution protocol and elevation of serum CEA above 5 ng/dL was considered as suspicious of recurrence.

Results One hundred ninety patients who received curative treatment were deemed eligible for the analysis. Among these 61 patients had recurrences during the follow-up period and postoperative CEA measurements at the time of recurrence were analyzed in all the patients. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of postoperative CEA to detect recurrences are 81.9, 92.2, 83.3, and 91.5%, respectively.

Conclusion CEA surveillance following definitive management of rectal cancer detects recurrences in majority of the patients and hence strongly recommended.

Keywords

carcinoembryonic antigen - early detection - rectal cancer - recurrence - serum CEA


Publication History

Article published online:
25 April 2022

© 2022. MedIntel Services Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
A-12, 2nd Floor, Sector 2, Noida-201301 UP, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Gold P, Freedman SO. Demonstration of tumor-specific antigens in human colonic carcinomata by immunological tolerance and absorption techniques. J Exp Med 1965; 121: 439-462
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Gold P, Freedman SO. Specific carcinoembryonic antigens of the human digestive system. J Exp Med 1965; 122 (03) 467-481
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Boucher D, Cournoyer D, Stanners CP, Fuks A. Studies on the control of gene expression of the carcinoembryonic antigen family in human tissue. Cancer Res 1989; 49 (04) 847-852
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Thomas P, Toth CA, Saini KS, Jessup JM, Steele Jr G. The structure, metabolism and function of the carcinoembryonic antigen gene family. Biochim Biophys Acta 1990; 1032 (02/03) 177-189
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Thompson JA, Grunert F, Zimmermann W. Carcinoembryonic antigen gene family: molecular biology and clinical perspectives. J Clin Lab Anal 1991; 5 (05) 344-366
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Fletcher RH. Carcinoembryonic antigen. Ann Intern Med 1986; 104 (01) 66-73
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Pietra N, Sarli L, Costi R, Ouchemi C, Grattarola M, Peracchia A. Role of follow-up in management of local recurrences of colorectal cancer: a prospective, randomized study. Dis Colon Rectum 1998; 41 (09) 1127-1133
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Berman JM, Cheung RJ, Weinberg DS. Surveillance after colorectal cancer resection. Lancet 2000; 355 (92/01) 395-399
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Jones C, Badger SA, Epanomeratikis E, McKie LD, Diamond T, Taylor MA. Role of carcinoembryonic antigen as a marker for colorectal liver metastases. Br J Biomed Sci 2013; 70 (02) 47-50
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Verberne CJ, Zhan Z, van den Heuvel E. et al. Intensified follow-up in colorectal cancer patients using frequent Carcino-Embryonic Antigen (CEA) measurements and CEA-triggered imaging: Results of the randomized “CEAwatch” trial. Eur J Surg Oncol 2015; 41 (09) 1188-1196
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Sugarbaker PH, Gianola FJ, Dwyer A, Neuman NR. A simplified plan for follow-up of patients with colon and rectal cancer supported by prospective studies of laboratory and radiologic test results. Surgery 1987; 102 (01) 79-87
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Graham RA, Wang S, Catalano PJ, Haller DG. Postsurgical surveillance of colon cancer: preliminary cost analysis of physician examination, carcinoembryonic antigen testing, chest x-ray, and colonoscopy. Ann Surg 1998; 228 (01) 59-63
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar