Correlation of Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Levels in Draining Venous Blood and Draining-Peripheral CEA Gradient, and Postoperative Survival of Gastric Cancer Patients

Hiroyuki Deguchi¹⁾, Yoshiki Tabuchi²⁾, Kizuku Imanishi³⁾, Yoichi Saitoh³⁾

Department of Surgery, Mitsubishi Kobe Hospital¹⁾, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Kobe Uniersity²⁾ and First Department of Surgery, Kobe University School of Medicine³⁾

The relationship between the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels of draining venous blood (d-CEA) and the draining-peripheral (d-p) CEA gradient, and postoperative survival was examined in 39 patients with CEA-producing gastric cancer. The mean (17 ng/ml) and positive rate (39%) greater than 5 ng/ml in 26 living patients were significantly lower than those (227 ng/ml and 77%) in 13 patients who died of cancer recurrence within 3 years. The mean value (199 ng/ml) of the d-p CEA gradient in the living patients was also significantly lower than that (15 ng/ml) in the patients who died. The survival curve of 20 patients with positive d-CEA was significantly lower than that of 19 patients with negative d-CEA, and the 3-year survival rates were 45% in the former and 78 % in the latter. The survival curve of 16 patients with a positive d-p CEA gradient greater than 5 ng/ml was also significantly lower than that of 23 patients with a negative gradient, and the 3-year survival rates were respectively 50% and 69%. These results suggest that d-CEA and the d-p CEA gradient may be used as prognostic indicators in gastric cancer patients. And patients with positive d-CEA and d-p CEA gradients must be treated clinically as patients having poor prognosis.

Key words
carcinoembryonic antigen levels of draining venous blood, draining-peripheral carcinoembryonic antigen gradient, carcinoembryonic antigen producing gastric cancer, postoperative survival of gastric cancer, prognostic indicator of gastric cancer

Reprint requests
Hiroyuki Deguchi Department of Surgery, Mitsubishi Kobe Hospital
6-1-34 Wadamiyadori, Hyogo-ku, Kobe, 652 JAPAN

Accepted
November 8, 1989

To read the PDF file you will need Abobe Reader installed on your computer.