The biological and clinical significance of tumor markers in tissue extracts
Castelli, M.; Sega, F.M.; Sciarretta, F.; Casale, V.; Coloni, F.; Sega, E.
Cancer Detection and Prevention 6(1-2): 61-66
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0361-090X PMID: 6883394 Document Number: 215437
A quantitative study of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) activity was made in plasma and in 25 colorectal tumors, 30 lung tumors, 20 breast tumors, and 20 fibrocystic dysplasias of the breast. The CEA content was detected by enzyme assays (EIA) in solid phase. In colorectal cancer the amount of CEA ranged from 40 to 800 ng/mg protein. In lung cancer, values ranged from 5 to 130 ng/mg protein. Differences in mean content of CEA between normal and cancer yielded the highest significant value of P less than 0.001. In 54 of 95 of cases, high concentrations of CEA in tissues were associated with high values in plasma. In fibrocystic dysplasia of the breast, the CEA concentration levels were lower than in cases of breast carcinoma. The CEA concentration values in fibrocystic dysplasia were associated with the epithelial proliferation and the degree of dysplasia. Therefore, the presence of elevated CEA tissues values may be indicative of patients with higher risk of malignant transformation.