Carcinoembryonic antigen levels in advanced gastric carcinoma

Serial CEA levels were measured in 157 patients with advanced inoperable gastric carcinoma entered in a controlled trial of cytotoxic therapy. In 49 (31%) of cases initial levels were greater than 50 ng/ml. However, serial measurements were only possible in 57 (36%) cases and results were prognostically valuable in only 15 (9.5%) of cases.