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A Review of the Role of Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Clinical Practice

Hall, Claire ; Clarke, Louise ; Pal, Atanu ; Buchwald, Pamela LU ; Eglinton, Tim ; Wakeman, Chris and Frizelle, Frank (2019) In Annals of coloproctology 35(6). p.294-305
Abstract

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is not normally produced in significant quantities after birth but is elevated in colorectal cancer. The aim of this review was to define the current role of CEA and how best to investigate patients with elevated CEA levels. A systematic review of CEA was performed, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies were identified from PubMed, Cochrane library, and controlled trials registers. We identified 2,712 papers of which 34 were relevant. Analysis of these papers found higher preoperative CEA levels were associated with advanced or metastatic disease and thus poorer prognosis. Postoperatively, failure of CEA to return to normal was found... (More)

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is not normally produced in significant quantities after birth but is elevated in colorectal cancer. The aim of this review was to define the current role of CEA and how best to investigate patients with elevated CEA levels. A systematic review of CEA was performed, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies were identified from PubMed, Cochrane library, and controlled trials registers. We identified 2,712 papers of which 34 were relevant. Analysis of these papers found higher preoperative CEA levels were associated with advanced or metastatic disease and thus poorer prognosis. Postoperatively, failure of CEA to return to normal was found to be indicative of residual or recurrent disease. However, measurement of CEA levels alone was not sufficient to improve survival rates. Two algorithms are proposed to guide investigation of patients with elevated CEA: one for patients with elevated CEA after CRC resection, and another for patients with de novo elevated CEA. CEA measurement has an important role in the investigation, management and follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
in
Annals of coloproctology
volume
35
issue
6
pages
294 - 305
publisher
Korean Society of Coloproctology
external identifiers
  • pmid:31937069
  • scopus:85078135410
ISSN
2287-9714
DOI
10.3393/ac.2019.11.13
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
a35493e3-8906-4862-bd34-15d32226210e
date added to LUP
2021-12-29 11:53:43
date last changed
2024-06-17 02:13:12
@article{a35493e3-8906-4862-bd34-15d32226210e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is not normally produced in significant quantities after birth but is elevated in colorectal cancer. The aim of this review was to define the current role of CEA and how best to investigate patients with elevated CEA levels. A systematic review of CEA was performed, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies were identified from PubMed, Cochrane library, and controlled trials registers. We identified 2,712 papers of which 34 were relevant. Analysis of these papers found higher preoperative CEA levels were associated with advanced or metastatic disease and thus poorer prognosis. Postoperatively, failure of CEA to return to normal was found to be indicative of residual or recurrent disease. However, measurement of CEA levels alone was not sufficient to improve survival rates. Two algorithms are proposed to guide investigation of patients with elevated CEA: one for patients with elevated CEA after CRC resection, and another for patients with de novo elevated CEA. CEA measurement has an important role in the investigation, management and follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hall, Claire and Clarke, Louise and Pal, Atanu and Buchwald, Pamela and Eglinton, Tim and Wakeman, Chris and Frizelle, Frank}},
  issn         = {{2287-9714}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{294--305}},
  publisher    = {{Korean Society of Coloproctology}},
  series       = {{Annals of coloproctology}},
  title        = {{A Review of the Role of Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Clinical Practice}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3393/ac.2019.11.13}},
  doi          = {{10.3393/ac.2019.11.13}},
  volume       = {{35}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}