[Clinical evaluation of CEA in colorectal carcinoma]

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) titer (Dinabot-Kit) were determined in proven 177 patients with colorectal carcinoma preoperatively, and at routine intervals following operation. The assay was positive in 39.1% with stage I, II, 65.9% with III, 65.9% with IV and 85.7% with V. Elevated CEA levels were noted in those who had infiltration of cancer cells extending through the proper muscle layer. In 79.2% of curative resections CEA levels returned to normal within one month, but the titers remained elevated in 73.3% of palliative resections. Among 26 patients with recurrent disease, 16 had a hepatic metastasis showing a previous or simultaneous CEA rise, whereas 10 had a local recurrence with a slow rise or normal. In addition, a quantitative study of CEA in extracts of 87 tumors was made in order to examine the factors affecting the level of circulating CEA. There was no significant difference between the CEA contents of the tumor and its level of circulating CEA. The level of circulating CEA might be influenced by the spread cancer cells, rather than the tumor contained CEA.