The radioimmunoassay of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen of Gold) in plasma of colorectal carcinoma patients

The CEA content was determined in plasma of 50 patients with colorectal carcinoma, 4 patients with colorectal polyps and 10 healthy blood donors. Elevated levels of CEA (>20 ng/ml) were found in 28 of 50 carcinoma patients while normal levels were found in all patients with polyps and in all blood donors. In 30 cases plasma CEA levels were correlated with the stage of disease. Negative results were found in 16 of 20 patients with early disease. In 8 of 10 patients with advanced cancer positive results were obtained and in 7 of these patients CEA values were higher than 40 ng/ml. In 2 of 4 patients with resectable cancer positive CEA values changed to negative after the surgery. In other 6 patients undergoing only palliative operation the results were positive both before and after surgery. CEA radioimmunoassay in our opinion is a valuable clinical method even if it cannot be presently used for screening. (author)