Colorectal cancer: Impact of CEA and CA19-9

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer world-wide. A diagnosis in early stages, adequate treatment, and a follow-up is vital for a good prognosis in overall and recurrence-free survival. While the tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is recommended for determining prognosis, surveillance after curative resection and monitoring treatment, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is not included in a guideline for colorectal cancer. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the value of CEA and CA19-9 combined in correlation with other clinicopathological parameters, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival. Therefore, 1487 patients that were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and treated at the University Hospital Ulm from 2000 to 2015 were evaluated. 57% of the patients had a normal preoperative CEA and CA19-9, 22% had only CEA increased, 5% had only CA19-9 increased, and 16% had both tumor markers increased. CEA and CA19-9 only showed a correlation to advanced tumor stages and poorly differentiated cells. The 5-year survival rate was significantly shorter in patients with a CEA or CA19-9 level ≥200 compared to patients with an increased, but