Serum carcinoembryonic antigen as a tumour marker in patients with endometrial cancer

Background No potential tumour markers have been validated for prognosis in endometrial cancer. However, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is one of the most widely used tumour markers in various types of cancer. Although CEA expression in endometrial cancer has been investigated, its prognostic value remains controversial, and no studies have investigated serum CEA levels in large case series. In the present study, we investigated diagnostic and prognostic applications of serum CEA for endometrial cancer. Methods This prospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Between January 2006 and December 2012, serum CEA was measured prospectively in 215 patients with endometrial cancer and was subsequently measured during treatment and at scheduled follow-up examinations in patients with elevated baseline serum CEA. Results During the study period, 215 patients (142 stage I, 19 stage ii, 32 stage III, 22 stage IV) were treated for endometrial cancer. By the time of last follow-up, 52 had relapsed (24.2%), and the median follow-up duration was 45 months (range: 1-95 months). Elevated serum CEA was identified in 25 patients (11.6%) and was associated with histologic type (p = 0.04), histologic grade (p = 0.03), and myometrial invasion depth (p = 0.01). Elevated serum CEA was not related to clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, age, menopausal status, or body mass index. Relapse of disease was related to elevated serum CEA (p = 0.006). Conclusions Serum CEA is a potential prognostic indicator for endometrial cancer.