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Carcinoembryonic antigen in anal carcinoma
G Tanum1, A E Stenwig, O P Børmer
1Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo.
Acta Oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)
|January 1, 1992
Summary
Elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in anal canal squamous cell carcinoma patients has limited clinical importance. CEA levels did not reliably predict treatment success or disease progression in this study.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal can present with elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
- The clinical significance of serum CEA levels in these patients requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical importance of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in patients with anal canal squamous cell carcinoma.
- To determine if serum CEA measurements and tumor CEA staining correlate with treatment response and prognosis.
Main Methods:
- Serum CEA levels were measured in 106 patients before chemo- and radiotherapy and during follow-up.
- Tumor CEA staining was assessed.
- Correlation between serum CEA, tumor CEA, and prognosis was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Twenty patients presented with elevated serum CEA before treatment.
- Serum CEA did not normalize after successful treatment in 6 of 12 cases.
- Serum CEA did not increase further despite progressive disease in 4 of 7 cases.
- CEA-positive tumors were more frequently poorly differentiated than CEA-negative tumors.
- No significant correlation was found between serum CEA, tumor CEA, and prognosis.
Conclusions:
- Measurement of serum CEA lacks clinical importance in managing anal canal squamous cell carcinoma.
- Tumor CEA staining also appears to have limited clinical importance for prognosis in this patient group.