Correlation of RDW-CV and CEA Levels as Tumor Markers in the Incidence of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most malignant cancer and has the second-highest mortality rate. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is commonly used as a CRC diagnostic and prognostic factor. Recently, many prognostic tumor markers, including red blood cell distribution width (RDW), have been identified, but few reports have focused on RDW coefficient of variation (CV). This study studied the correlation between RDW-CV and CEA levels in terms of CRC incidence.

This study was conducted at Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Makassar Hospital using an observational, retrospective approach. Data covering a 5-year span (2016-2020) was collected, then serum levels of RDW-CV and CEA in CRC patients were compared.

There was a correlation between RDW-CV and CEA. CRC patients had an average RDW-CV level of 34%, with a range from 6.0% to 30.20%, A total of 334 patients had high RDW-CV levels, whereas 49 patients had levels within normal limits. These patients had an average CEA value of 34 ng/mL, with a range between 0.34 ng/mL and 180 ng/mL. Three-hundred sixty-five patients had high CEA levels, and 18 patients had levels within normal limits. The patients with high RDW-CV scores all had high CEA scores. There were 31 patients with normal RDW-CV scores and high CEA scores. Finally, all 18 patients with normal CEA scores also had normal RDW-CV scores.

Based on the results, RDW-CV has the potential to become a marker for CRC. Therefore, RDW-CV levels should be che-cked when there is suspicion of CRC.