THE RELATION BETWEEN THE CEA, CA19-9 LEVELS AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN COLORECTAL CANCER

Abstract

Aim: Studying the combination of CEA and CA 19-9 levels with histopathological characteristics as well as monitoring recurrence and metastasis in patients with colorectal cancer. Materials and method: 66 patients diagnosed and treated for colorectal cancer at Hue Central Hospital from April 2012 to July 2013. The level of CEA > 5 ng/ml was defined as abnormal (CEA (+)), while the cutoff for the CA 19-9 was set at 37 U/mL (CA 19-9 (+)). Results: The positive rates of serum CEA and CA19-9 before surgery was 46.9%, 16.7%. When combination of CEA and CA 19-9, this rate increased to 50 %. The proportion of cancer wale was 77.3 %, tumor size T3 was majority of 65.2%. Adenocarcinoma was the highest percentage of 94.0%, 6.0%. The well differentiated adenocarcinoma was 62.1%, Dukes B (53%). The elevation of serum CEA related to the Dukes stage (p<0.05). CA 19-9 is not. when two marker were used, the preoperative elevation of CEA and CA 19-9 was significantly correlated with the Dukes stages. (p<0.05). The percentage of patients with recurrence was 9.1%, metastases was 18.2%. Conclusions: The measurement of CEA and CA 19-9 had prognostic value in patients with colorectal cancer at the late stage (Dukes C and Dukes D). In addition, CEA and CA 19-9 were an efficient way to detect and monitor patients with recurrence or metastasis. Key words: Colorectal cancer, CEA, CA 19-9, recurrence, metastasis