HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by DiSAIA, P. J. Articles by DYCE, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by DiSAIA, P. J. Articles by DYCE, B.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Cervical and Vulvar Cancer Patients

Serum Levels and Disease Progress

From the Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medicine and Pharmacology at LAC/USC Medical Center, Los Angeles, California

Abstract

Serial carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assays were performed on 10 patients with primary invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, 7 patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, and 5 patients with invasive squamous carcinoma of the vulva. Plasma CEA determinations were accomplished by radioimmunoassay, using a modification of Hanson's method. In 8 of the 10 patients with invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, positive CEA values dropped to normal ranges during the course of radiotherapy, usually in the first 4 weeks of treatment. A similar decrease in patients' serum values was seen after surgical extirpation of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix by pelvic exenteration. Serum values also dropped to within normal limits in a limited number of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva after complete removal of all gross disease. Persistence of disease was associated with chronically elevated values. A suggestion is made that patients with elevated CEA values may be followed with serial determinations to substantiate complete eradication of their disease.