also known as Carcinoembryonic Ag in Serum or Plasma
A protein normally found in the tissue of a developing baby in the womb. CEA blood level disappears or becomes very low after birth. Increased CEA levels have been detected with primary colorectal cancer and in patients with other cancers such as medullary thyroid carcinoma, breast cancer, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, liver cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer. Elevated levels can also be caused by infection, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic smoking, and inflammatory bowel disease. CEA levels provide important information about patient prognosis, recurrence of tumors after surgical removal, and effectiveness of therapy. Alternative Name(s): Carcinoembryonic Antigen, CEA