CEA and CA 19-9 are Still Valuable Markers for the Prognosis of Colorectal and Gastric Cancer Patients

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive effect of preoperative CEA and CA 19-9levels on the prognosis of colorectal and gastric cancer patients. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: CEA and CA 19-9 wereevaluated preoperatively in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (n=116) and gastric cancer (n=49).Patients with CEA levels <5 ng/mL were classified as CEA Group 1, 5-30 ng/mL as CEA Group 2 and >30 ng/mL were classified as CEA Group 3. Similarly the patients with a CA 19-9 level <35 U/mL were classified as CA19-9 Group 1, with 35-100 U/mL as Group 2 and with >100 U/mL as Group and 3. TNM stages and histologicgrades were noted according to histopathological reports. Patients with a TNM grade 0 or 1 were classified asGroup A, TNM grade 2 patients constituted Group B and TNM grade 3 and 4 patients constituted Group C.Demographic characteristics, tumor locations and blood types of the patients were all recorded and these datawere compared with the preoperative CEA and CA19-9 values. <br/><b>Results</b>: A significant correlation between CA19-9 levels (>100 U/mL) and TNM stage (in advanced stages) was determined. We also determined a significantcorrelation between TNM stages and positive vlaues for both CEA and CA 19-9 in colorectal and gastric cancerpatients. In comparison between CEA and CA 19-9 levels and age, gender, tumor location, ABO blood group,and tumor histologic grade, no significant correlation was found. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Positive levels of both CEA andCA 19-9 can be considered to indicate an advanced stage in colorectal and gastric cancer patients.