Open AccessAssociation of perioperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level and recurrence in low-risk stage IIA colon cancer
Author(s) -
Han Gil Kim,
Seung Ryong Yang,
Young Mi Han,
Min Soo Cho,
Byung Soh Min,
Kang Young Lee,
Nam Kyu Kim,
Hyuk Hur
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0252566
Subject(s) - medicine , carcinoembryonic antigen , perioperative , colorectal cancer , stage (stratigraphy) , gastroenterology , risk factor , cancer , adenocarcinoma , surgery , paleontology , biology
Background The purpose is to investigate prognosis according to serum CEA levels before and after surgery in patients with stage IIA colon cancer who do not show high-risk features. Methods Among the patients diagnosed with colon adenocarcinoma between April 2011 and December 2017, 462 patients were confirmed as low-risk stage IIA after surgery and enrolled. The ROC curve was used to determine cut-off values of pre- and postoperative CEA. Patients were classified into three groups using these new cut-off values. Results All recurrence occurred in 52 of 463 patients (11.2%). However, recurrence in group H was 15.9%, which was slightly higher than the other two groups (P = 0.04). Group L and M showed 10.5% and 12.8% overall survival, group H was higher at 21.0% (P = 0.005). Recurrence was the only risk factor in group H was significantly higher in group L (HR 2.008, 95% CI, 1.123–3.589, P = 0.019). Mortality was similar to recurrence (HR 1.975, 95% CI 1.091–3.523, P = 0.044). Conclusion Among patients with low-risk stage IIA colon cancer, recurrence and mortality rates were higher when perioperative serum CEA levels were above a certain level. Therefore, high CEA level should be considered a high-risk feature and adjuvant chemotherapy should be performed.