Prognostic Significance of the Decreased Rate of Perioperative Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen Level in the Patients With Colon Cancer After a Curative Resection

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a clinical prognostic factor in the follow-up evaluation of patients with colon cancer. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the rate of decrease of the perioperative serum CEA level in patients with colon cancer after a curative resection. METHODS: A total of 605 patients who underwent a curative resection for colon cancer between January 2000 and December 2007 were enrolled retrospectively. The rate of decrease was calculated using the following equation: ([preoperative CEA - postoperative CEA]/[preoperative CEA] x100). RESULTS: In the group with a preoperative serum CEA level of >5 ng/mL, the normalized group with a postoperative serum CEA level of 5 ng/mL, the prognostic factors for the OS and the DFS were the cutoff value (P < 0.0001) and the pN stage (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: A rate of decrease of more than 50% in the perioperative serum CEA level, as well as the normalization of the postoperative serum CEA level, may be useful factors for determining a prognosis for colon cancer patients with high preoperative CEA levels.