Evaluation of Relationship between Serum Levels of Tumor Markers (CEA, CA19-9) with Diagnosis, Pathological Finding and Staging in Colorectal Carcinoma

The diagnosis of colorectal cancer in early stage increases the survival rate and quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the tumor markers of CEA and CA19-9 with diagnosis, staging and pathological finding in patients with colorectal cancer. One hundred confirmed colorectal cancer patients who were candidates for surgery were included in the study group. Demographical, clinical and pathological information were collected. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from patients preoperatively for serum assay of the tumor marker (CEA and CA19-9). The mean age of the patients was 56.95±15.16 years. The mean serum levels of CEA and CA19-9 tumor markers were 101.63±18.9μg/L and 83.53±39.55 KU/L, respectively. More than one third of the patients had abnormal range of tumor markers (CEA, 36% and CA19-9, 35%). Simultaneous increase in both tumor markers was observed in 17.5% of the patients. An increase in the serum level of CA19-9 was correlated with the number of the involved lymph nodes (P=0.03). Moreover, an increase in the serum level of CEA was correlated with the depth of invasion (P=0.05), number of metastatic lymph nodes (P=0.001) and stage of the disease (P=0.01). Simultaneous increase in both tumor markers was correlated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes (P=0.01). According to the results of this study, the elevated preoperative serum levels of CEA and CA19-9 may be indicative of the disease progression, but not diagnosis of the disease in early stages.