Carcinoembryogenic Antigen Research Articles

Carcinoembryogenic antigen and lysosomal enzymes in gastric juice as an aid in the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Malignant transformation in cells is accompanied by enzymatic changes that may be useful markers of malignancy. Studies of oncofetal antigens in gastric juice show an increased concentration in patients with gastric carcinoma. The object of the present study was to test if the concentration of lysosomal enzymes and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were altered in patients with gastric carcinoma compared to patients earlier operated with gastric resection--a supposedly premalignant condition. The results show that no differences could be found in CEA and beta-hexosaminidase levels between the patients with gastric carcinoma and those with gastric resection. However, lysozyme content was significantly higher in gastric carcinoma and might prove useful for screening of patients after gastric resection. Both CEA, beta-hexosaminidase, and lysozyme levels were significantly higher in patients with gastric carcinoma than in a control population, and can therefore have a role in screening of asymptomatic patients.

Urinary carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) in the diagnosis and follow-up of bladder carcinoma.

The level of urinary carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) was evaluated in the diagnosis and follow-up of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Urinary CEA concentration, cystoscopic findings and the histopathology of an eventually resected bladder tumour were correlated in 177 cases. The sensitivity proved to be 34%, the specificity 82%. Possible correlations with sex, infection, primary tumour or recurrence, differentiation and invasion of an eventually resected tumour and influence of adjuvant therapy were also evaluated. A comparison was made with the results of other authors and different factors which may influence urinary CEA levels are discussed.

Immunoperoxidase staining of carcinoembryonic antigen with monoclonal antibodies in adenocarcinoma of the colon.

Mouse monoclonal antibodies to carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) obtained by the somatic cell hybridization technique of Köhler and Milstein were used in a modified enzyme bridge immunoperoxidase staining method. Both high and low affinity antibodies were tested and their staining properties compared with those of a commercial polyvalent rabbit antiserum. The staining pattern of neoplastic epithelial cells in all seven antibodies in samples of primary adenocarcinoma of the colon was similar, indicating that no gross differences were found in the exposure of the different antigenic determinants of CEA in formalin fixed tissue. The background staining of the monoclonal antibodies are negligible. It is concluded that monoclonal antibodies are superior to conventional antisera in immunoperoxidase staining of CEA.

Is serum β2-microglobulin a tumor marker in gastrointestinal cancer?

Serial determinations of serum β2-microglobulin (β2m) and carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA) were performed in 314 patients with histologically confirmed gastrointestinal cancer. The data were correlated with a set of clinical parameters. Pre-operative serum β2m levels did not discriminate different classes of tumor extension nor different stages of resectability of tumors in contrast to CEA. During post-operative surveillance the correlation of the time courses of serum β2m and CEA with the clinical course of malignant disease was studied in a selected group of 165 patients with resected primary carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. During the follow-up 74 165 patients showed disease progression or recurrence. In the β2m follow-up 66% false negative indications ( 49 74 ) of malignant disease were observed, whereas in the CEA follow-up it was 5% ( 4 74 ). The ratio of correct positive/false positive indications was 25 10 in the β2m follow-up and 70 10 in the CEA follow-up. The data indicate that the formation of serum β2m is not directly tumor associated in gastrointestinal cancer.

Les modifications des marqueurs génétiques au cours des hémopathies malignes

Genetic marker changes in malignancy are related to an acquired disfunction of the genetic material in stem cells. This disfunction always leads to the lack of antigen; whenever we evidenced a new specificity it was an unconverted substrate. In malignant states modifications are multiple, polyclonal and independent. This least feature explains the extent of the process giving that disfunction. The evidence of a genetic defect is supported by the simultaneous decrease of the primary gene product: the glycosyl-transferase (ABO locus). In some other malignant carcinoma, blood group specificities were observed, their meaning is not well explained. Blood group specificities associated to carcino embryogenic antigen (CEA) or to some mucins could be related to the structure of macromolecular carriers.