Abstract
The tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), TPS, CA 19-9, CA 50 and CA 242 were analysed in serum from 203 potentially curable colorectal cancer patients. The levels of all markers increased with increasing tumour stage, and all markers correlated with survival. Multivariate analyses indicated that the Dukes stage had the best prognostic explanatory power, followed by TPA. In the subset of 166 potentially cured patients, the prognostic information by the markers was substantially reduced. We conclude that preoperative serum tumour marker measurements have the potential to aid therapy selection, but also that their clinical usefulness is not immediately apparent.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lindmark, G., Bergström, R., Påhlman, L. et al. The association of preoperative serum tumour markers with Dukes' stage and survival in colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 71, 1090–1094 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1995.211
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1995.211
This article is cited by
-
Incorporation of serum carcinoembryonic antigen levels into the prognostic grouping system of colon cancer
International Journal of Colorectal Disease (2017)
-
Investigation of nonspecific cross-reacting antigen 2 as a prognostic biomarker in bone marrow plasma from colorectal cancer patients
Tumor Biology (2012)
-
Prognostic implications of BAX protein expression and microsatellite instability in all non-metastatic stages of primary colon cancer treated by surgery alone
International Journal of Colorectal Disease (2009)
-
Carcinoembryonic antigen as an independent prognostic factor of recurrence and survival in patients resected for colorectal liver metastases
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum (2001)