CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen)

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is one of the antigens most commonly found in the fetal gastrointestinal tract and in fetal serum. In adults, the concentration of CEA is very low, as the synthesis of this protein is suppressed after birth.

The CEA test is important in the diagnosis of malignant diseases, although it is not used on its own. It is valuable for monitoring and evaluating treatment effectiveness in patients with cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, breast, lungs, thyroid, urinary system, and reproductive organs.

The CEA tumor marker is also important for tracking the progression of colon and stomach cancers, as well as for detecting possible metastases to the liver and bones. CEA levels may increase even before any symptoms of the disease appear.

Elevated CEA levels in the blood serum can be observed in cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, breast, lungs, thyroid, urinary and reproductive systems, cervix, certain types of ovarian cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer.

However, CEA levels may also be elevated in benign conditions, such as:

• inflammatory bowel diseases
• liver cirrhosis
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

Additionally, smokers tend to have higher CEA levels in their blood compared to non-smokers.