• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.17-22
• /
• 1978

Carcinoembryonic antigen was initially known as tumor specific antigen and had a potential diagnostic value in the detection of digestive tract malignancies. However, subsequent studies showed CEA and CEA-like antigen present in benign disease, particullary in liver. We had collected sera from 58 patients who had liver scan and later were diagnosed clinically and histologically as liver disease. We estimated CEA values and correlations were made with liver function tests in liver cirrhosis cases. The results: 1) The raised plasma carcinoembryonic antigen level were found in 13 (68.4%) of 19 patients in liver cirrhosis, 5(27.8%) of 18 patients in hepatoma, 5(71. %) of 7 patients in chronic active hepatitis, all 3 patients in liver abscesses, 2(66.7%) of 3 patients in liver ablscesses, 2(66.7%) of 3 patients in obstructive biliary disease and none in each one patient of traumatic liver hematoma, subphrenic abscess and clonorchiasis. 2) There is no linear correlation between carcinoembryodic antigen level and liver function tests including serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and prothrombin time in liver cirrhosis patients.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.1408-1413
• /
• 2005

Elevated expression of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has been implicated in various biological aspects of neoplasia such as tumor cell adhesion, metastasis, blocking of cellular immune mechanisms, and antiapoptosis function. Thus, the CEA could be an important target for anticancer therapy. In this study, we developed Tetrahymena group 1 intron-based trans-splicing ribozymes that can specifically target and replace CEA RNA. To this end, we first determined which regions of the CEA RNA were accessible to ribozymes by employing an RNA mapping strategy that was based on a trans-splicing ribozyme library. Next, we assessed the ribozyme activities by comparing the trans-splicing activities of several ribozymes that targeted different regions of the CEA RNA, and then the ribozyme that could target the most accessible site was observed to be the most active with high fidelity in vitro. Moreover, the specific trans-splicing ribozyme was found to react with and altered the target CEA transcripts in mammalian cells with high fidelity. These results suggest that the Tetrahymena ribozyme can be utilized to replace CEA RNAs in tumors with a new RNA-harboring anticancer activity, thereby hopefully reverting the malignant phenotype.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.216-221
• /
• 2017

Background: This study was conducted to investigate preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. Methods: Between January 2000 and July 2011, 1298 patients with primary adenocarcinoma colorectal cancer without metastasis, who underwent curative resection were retrospectively identified. The patients were divided into two groups according to serum CEA level at primary diagnosis: a high CEA (HCEA) group (serum CEA ${\geq}6ng/mL$) and a normal CEA (NCEA) group (serum CEA <6 ng/mL). A 1:1 propensity score matching analysis was applied to reduce bias. Finally, 364 patients were enrolled in this study. Matched variables were age, gender, preoperative chemoradiotherapy, tumor site, cell differentiation and pathologic stage. Results: The clinicopathological characteristics of the two groups did not differ significantly difference. The systemic metastasis rate was 16.5% (30/182) and 25.3% (46/182) in the NCEA and HCEA groups, respectively (p=0.039). There were no significant differences in local recurrence or metastatic sites between groups. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate of the HCEA group was worse than that of the NCEA group; however, there was no significant difference in overall survival between the two groups. Conclusion: Elevated preoperative CEA was related to frequent systemic recurrence and low DFS. Therefore, elevated preoperative CEA could be considered a prognostic factor for worse clinical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.243-246
• /
• 2016

The characteristics of a bimetallic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) chip were investigated to detect a tumor biomarker, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The linewidth and the tangential slope of the reflectance curve of the bimetallic SPR chip was compared with those of the reflectance curve of a conventional gold (Au) SPR chip. The changes in reflectance in response to the variation in CEA in the critical concentration range were analyzed at an angle where the tangential slope of the reflectance curve was maximum. From linear regression analysis, the sensitivity of the bimetallic SPR chip with respect to the CEA in critical concentration was obtained.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.210-216
• /
• 2012

Purpose: To assess independent prognostic factors for lymph node-negative metastatic gastric cancer patients following curative resection is valuable for more effective follow-up strategies. Materials and Methods: Among 1,874 gastric cancer patients who received curative resection, 967 patients were lymph node-negative. Independent prognostic factors for overall survival in lymph node-negative gastric cancer patients grouped by tumor invasion depth (early gastric cancer versus advanced gastric cancer) were explored with univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: There was a significant difference in the distribution of recurrence pattern between lymph node-negative and lymph nodepositive group. In the lymph node-negative group, the recurrence pattern differed by the depth of tumor invasion. In univariate analysis for overall survival of the early gastric cancer group, age, macroscopic appearance, histologic type, venous invasion, lymphatic invasion, and carcinoembryonic antigen level were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis for these factors showed that venous invasion (hazard ratio, 6.695), age (${\geq}59$, hazard ratio, 2.882), and carcinoembryonic antigen level (${\geq}5$ ng/dl, hazard ratio, 3.938) were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis of advanced gastric cancer group showed that depth of tumor invasion (T2 versus T3, hazard ratio, 2.809), and age (hazard ratio, 2.319) were prognostic factors on overall survival. Conclusions: Based on our results, independent prognostic factors such as venous permeation, carcinoembryonic antigen level, and age, depth of tumor invasion on overall survival were different between early gastric cancer and advanced gastric cancer group in lymph node-negative gastric cancer patients. Therefore, we are confident that our results will contribute to planning follow-up strategies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.41-49
• /
• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and type of work in the shipbuilding industry. Methods: 1,072 final study subjects were admitted to a general hospital from April through July 2010 for the purpose of medical examination. Data on general characteristics such as age, smoking history, alcohol history and exercise habits was gathered through structured self-administered questionnaires. Information on job factors was collected from a medical examination, by interview and through company personnel data. Serum CEA levels were measured after eight hours' fasting and were analyzed by a radioimmunoassay. Results: On univariate analysis, the mean serum CEA level was significantly higher among married (p=0.02), older age (p<0.01), longer work time (p<0.01), smokers (p<0.01), lower education (p<0.01), and indirect and direct exposure groups (p<0.01). On multiple regression analysis, serum CEA level was influenced by smoking (p=0.001), duration of work (p=0.019), and direct exposure group (p<0.001). However, among the direct exposure group, serum CEA level was not significantly different between welding, mounting, electro-device constructive work, grinding and cleaning, and painting. Conclusions: The goal of this research was to determine if there were differences between serum CEA levels according to occupational role among shipyard workers. The direct exposure group of shipyard workers had a relatively higher level of serum CEA than did the indirect exposure group and office workers, most likely due to occupational exposure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.48 no.5
• /
• pp.335-344
• /
• 2015

Background: A raised carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) may be associated with significant pathology during the postoperative follow-up of lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 305 patients who underwent surgical resections for primary lung adenocarcinoma at a single institution between April 2006 and February 2013. Results: Preoperative CEA levels were significantly associated with age, smoking history, pathologic stage including pT (pathologic tumor stge), pN (pathologic nodal stage) and overall pathological stage, tumor size and differentiation, pathologically positive total lymph node, N1 and N2 lymph node, N2 nodal station (0/1/2=1.83/2.94/7.21 ng/mL, p=0.019), and 5-year disease-free survival (0.591 in group with normal preoperative CEA levels vs. 0.40 in group with high preoperative CEA levels, p=0.001). Preoperative CEA levels were significantly higher than postoperative CEA levels (p<0.001, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Postoperative CEA level was also significantly associated with disease-free survival (p<0.001). A follow-up serum CEA value of >2.57 ng/mL was found to be the appropriate cutoff value for the prediction of cancer recurrence with sensitivity and specificity of 71.4% and 72.3%, respectively. Twenty percent of patients who had recurrence of disease had a CEA level elevated above this cutoff value prior to radiographic evidence of recurrence. Postoperative CEA, pathologic stage, differentiation, vascular invasion, and neoadjuvant therapy were identified as independent predictors of 5-year disease-free survival in a multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The follow-up CEA level can be a useful tool for detecting early recurrence undetected by postoperative imaging studies. The perioperative follow-up CEA levels may be helpful for providing personalized evaluation of lung adenocarcinoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.69 no.1
• /
• pp.48-51
• /
• 2010

Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology. The characteristic pathological finding is the presence of non-caseating granulomas. The lungs are primarily affected, however other organs may be involved causing various symptoms and ambiguous laboratory findings can be present. There are a few reported cases of sarcoidosis with elevated tumor markers. We describe a 68-year-old woman presenting with sarcoidosis showing elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The possibility of cancer arising from serum CEA such as gastrointestinal cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer was excluded. A transbronchial lung biopsy demonstrated a non-caseating granuloma without necrosis. As a result prescribed 30 mg prednisolone daily to the patient and serum CEA was decreased after 1 month of treatment. We report a case of pulmonary sarcoidosis with elevated serum CEA.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.221-228
• /
• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the value of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels to detect gastric cancer recurrence. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 154 patients who developed recurrence within 2 years after curative gastric cancer surgery and analyzed the relationship between postoperative CEA and CA19-9 levels and recurrence. We readjusted the cut-off values to improve the detection of recurrence. Subgroup analysis according to clinicopathologic variables was performed to further investigate the relationship between recurrence and CEA and CA19-9 levels. Results: The sensitivity and specificity for elevated CEA levels to detect recurrence were 40.6% and 89.5%, respectively, and those for CA19-9 were 34.2% and 93.6%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for elevation of either tumor marker were 54.3% and 84.0%, respectively; those for elevation of both tumor markers were 19.2% and 98.4%, respectively. By readjusting the cut-off values from 5.0 ng/ml to 5.2 ng/ml for CEA and from 37.00 U/ml to 30.0 U/ml for CA19-9, the sensitivity was increased from 34.2% to 40.2% for CA19-9, while there was no increase in sensitivity for CEA. In subgroup analysis, the sensitivity of CEA was higher in patients with elevated preoperative CEA levels than in patients with normal preoperative CEA levels (86.7% versus 33.7%; P<0.001). Furthermore, the sensitivity of CA19-9 was higher in patients with elevated preoperative CA19-9 levels than in patients with normal preoperative CA19-9 levels (82.61% versus 26.83%; P<0.001). Conclusions: CEA and/or CA19-9 measurement with the readjusted cut-off values allows for more effective detection of gastric cancer recurrence.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.38-48
• /
• 2022

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an oncofetal antigen primarily detected in the peripheral blood of cancer patients, particularly in those with colorectal cancer. CEA is considered a valuable target for antigen-specific immunotherapy. In this study, we induced the anti-tumor immunity for CEA through the administration of a dendritic cell (DC) vaccine. However, there was a limitation in inducing tumor regression in the DC vaccinated mice. To enhance the efficacy of anti-tumor immunity in MC38/CEA2 tumor-bearing mice, we evaluated the effects of DC vaccine in combination with cyclophosphamide (CYP). Administration of CYP 100 mg/kg in mice resulted in significant inhibition of tumor growth in the 2-day tumor model, whereas a lower inhibition of tumor growth was seen in the 10-day tumor model. Therefore, the 10-day tumor model was selected for testing chemo-immunotherapy. The combined CYP and DC vaccine not only increased tumor antigen-specific immune responses but also induced synergistic anti-tumor immunity. Furthermore, the adverse effects of CYP such as weight loss and immunosuppression by regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells showed a significant reduction in the combined chemo-immunotherapy treatment compared with CYP alone. Our data suggest that chemoimmunotherapy with the DC vaccine may offer a new therapeutic strategy to induce a potent anti-tumor effect and reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy.