CEA Levels in Gastric Juice in Precancerous Conditions and Cancer

Abstract

First described in 1965 as a specific antigen for cancer of the colon, CEA is now considered to be an antigen associated with many types of malignant neoplasia, although the CEA-Test's role in clinical routine has yet to be clearly defined. In the present study CEA levels in gastric juice were measured in subjects with gastric carcinoma (n = 25) and with benign gastric lesions (n = 171). CEA was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in patients with gastric carcinoma (GC) than in subjects with benign gastric lesions, other than chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) associated with intestinal metaplasia (IM). In this latter condition CEA levels were similar to those in patients with GC. These results suggest that the assay of CEA in gastric juice could be included in the diagnostic program for gastric cancer and its precursors with the aim of assessing its utility as risk indicator in the management of precancerous conditions and lesion.