Factors controlling the circulating CEA levels in pancreatic cancer: Some clinical correlations

This paper summarizes some of the factors that influence plasma CEA levels in patients with pancreatic cancer. The serial CEA findings become clinically useful when placed in context with the patient's clinical course, tumor pathology and spread, response to therapy (especially surgery), and presence or absence of jaundice. The use of serial CEA determinations reflects these several factors, providing opportunities for earlier diagnosis, evidence of curative resectability, detection of recurrence and metastatic spread. When improved therapy becomes available, it will provide a useful index of its effectiveness. Whether the diagnosis is early enough to permit curative surgery remains to be seen.