Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein involved in cell adhesion that is typically produced during fetal development. Its production stops before birth, and as a result, CEA is usually absent in the blood of healthy adults. However, CEA levels may be elevated in certain individuals, particularly heavy smokers.
The CEA test measures the amount of this protein in the blood and is primarily used to monitor certain cancers, especially colorectal cancer (including colon and rectal cancers). Elevated CEA levels can also be found in people with cancers of the pancreas, breast, ovary, and lung.
Although CEA levels are commonly associated with malignancies, they can also be elevated in patients with non-malignant conditions, particularly in older individuals. CEA testing is not typically used to monitor the course of disease. After surgical removal of cancerous tissue, CEA levels usually fall to normal or near-normal levels within one to four months. An increase in CEA levels after surgery may be an early indicator of recurrence, potentially preceding physical symptoms.
Thus, while the CEA test is useful for monitoring certain cancers and detecting recurrence, it is not specific to cancer and should be interpreted alongside other diagnostic tests and clinical findings
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