II. Indications

  1. Stage II or III (Duke B1-C1) Colon Cancer monitoring
  2. Do not use to screen for Colon Cancer or other cancer

III. Interpretation

  1. Normal
    1. Non-smokers: <2.5 mg/ml
    2. Smokers: <5 ng/ml
  2. Increased
    1. Benign disease unlikely if >10 ng/ml
    2. Distant metastasis most likely if >100 ng/ml

IV. Efficacy

  1. Not specific
    1. Seen in other adenocarcinoma (see below)
  2. Sensitivity varies by tumor stage and differentiation
    1. CEA not increased in poorly differentiated tumors
    2. Increased in <25% of Duke A or B stage Colon Cancer
    3. Increased in 50% with Duke C stage Colon Cancer
    4. Increased in 75% of Duke D stage Colon Cancer

VI. Protocol for monitoring after Colorectal Cancer resection

  1. Repeat CEA level q2-3 months for 2 years

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Related Studies

Ontology: Carcinoembryonic Antigen (C0007082)

Definition (CHV) a substance often found in a person with cancer
Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) A substance that is sometimes found in an increased amount in the blood of people who have certain cancers, other diseases, or who smoke. It is used as a tumor marker for colorectal cancer.
Definition (NCI) An antigen that is secreted onto the luminal surface of gastrointestinal epithelia and is found in pancreaticobiliary secretions. The antigen has been implicated as a facilitator of hepatic metastasis and is a cancer specific antigen of colon carcinoma. It is present in adenocarcinomas of endodermal origin and is localized in human embryonic gastrointestinal tissue.
Definition (NCI) A cancer-specific antigen associated with both tumors and the developing fetus. The main use of this antigen is as a tumor marker, especially with respect to intestinal cancers. Production of the antigen ceases shortly before birth, but may reappear in people who develop certain types of cancer.
Definition (MSH) A glycoprotein that is secreted into the luminal surface of the epithelia in the gastrointestinal tract. It is found in the feces and pancreaticobiliary secretions and is used to monitor the response to colon cancer treatment.
Definition (CSP) cancer specific antigen of colon carcinoma, also present in adenocarinomas of endodermal origin and in human embryonic gastrointestinal tissue.
Concepts Immunologic Factor (T129) , Amino Acid, Peptide, or Protein (T116)
MSH D002272
SnomedCT 67246004, 270010003, 103134003, 144296000
LNC LP20116-7, LP37572-2, LP28643-2, MTHU001703, MTHU026049, MTHU027122
English Antigen, Carcinoembryonic, Carcinoembryonic Antigen, carcinoembryonal antigen, ANTIGENS CD 066E, CD 066 E ANTIGEN, Lymphocyte antigen CD66E, Carcinoembryonic Antigen [Chemical/Ingredient], carcinoembryonic antigen, Carcinoembryonic Antigen Family Protein, CEA Family Protein, CD66e Antigen, Lymphocyte antigen CD66E (substance), Carcinoembryonic Ag, CD66e Ag, CD66e, Carcinoembryonic antigen, CEA - Carcinoembryonic antigen, Carcinoembryonic antigen (substance), CEA, Meconium Antigen 100, CEACAM5, Carcinoembryonic Antigen CGM2, Carcinoembryonic Antigen-Related Cell Adhesion Molecule 5, Antigen, CD66e, Antigens, CD66e, CD66e Antigens
Swedish Karcinoembryonalt antigen
Czech karcinoembryonální antigen
Spanish CEA - antígeno carcinoembrionario, antígeno linfocitario CD66E, antígeno linfocitario CD66E (sustancia), antígeno carcinoembrionario (sustancia), antígeno carcinoembrionario, Antígeno Carcinoembrionario, Antígenos CD66e
Finnish Karsinoembryonaalinen antigeeni
Russian RAKOVO-EMBRIONAL'NYI ANTIGEN, ANTIGEN OPUKHOLEVYI EMBRIOSPETSIFICHESKII, ANTIGEN RAKOVO-EMBRIONAL'NYI, АНТИГЕН ОПУХОЛЕВЫЙ ЭМБРИОСПЕЦИФИЧЕСКИЙ, АНТИГЕН РАКОВО-ЭМБРИОНАЛЬНЫЙ, РАКОВО-ЭМБРИОНАЛЬНЫЙ АНТИГЕН
Japanese 癌胎児性抗原, CD66e抗原, 癌胚抗原, 胎児性癌抗原
French Antigène CD66e, Antigènes CD66e, Antigène ACE, CD66e, ACE (Antigène CarcinoEmbryonnaire), Antigène carcinoembryonnaire, Antigène carcino-embryonnaire
German CD 066 E ANTIGEN, ANTIGEN CD 066 E, Karzinoembryonales Antigen, Antigen, CD66e, CD66e-Antigen
Croatian KARCINOEMBRIONALNI ANTIGEN
Polish CEA, Antygen karcynoembrionalny
Italian Antigene carcino-embrionale
Portuguese Antígeno Carcinoembrionário, Antígenos CD66e