Carcinoembryonic antigen-like activity in gastric juice and plasma in patients with gastric disorders.

ABSTRACT

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)-like activity in gastric juice and plasma was examined in patients with gastric disease. There was no statistical difference in plasma CEA in normal subjects and in patients with benign gastric cancer. However, four patients with advanced gastric cancer, one with stage III and three with stage IV disease had a very high plasma CEA level. There was significant differences in CEA-like activity in gastric juice in patients with benign gastric disease and early gastric cancer (p less than 0.01) and patients wih benign and advanced gastric cancer (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that measurement of CEA-like activity in gastric juice is a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of early malignant changes in the stomach.