D. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) – Explanation
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is especially important to monitor response
totreatment and identify relapse in tumours showing raised CEA at diagnosis
(e.g.colorectal cancers)
The history of the right upper quadrant discomfort and the examinations of a
palpableliver are descriptions of tumour metastasis to the liver. CEA raises with a
metastatictumours from colon whereas alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is elevated in primary
hepatocellular carcinoma. So do not get confused and pick AFP where there is a
clearhistory of colorectal carcinoma.
Common tumour markers
| Tumour marker | Association |
| CA 125 | Ovarian cancer |
| CA 19-9 | Pancreatic cancer |
| CA 15-3 | Breast cancer |
| Prostate specific antigen (PSA) | Prostatic carcinoma |
| Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) | Colorectal cancer |
| Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) | Hepatocellular carcinoma, teratoma |
