Prognostic Value of Circulating CA 19-9 in Colorectal Cancer Patients

Aims: We examined the preoperative serum levels of sialyl Lewisa (CA19-9) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in 262 colorectal cancer patients, in order to clarify whether or not the prognostic value of CA19-9 after curative surgery is superior to that of CEA. Patients and Methods: The patients were divided into two groups: low or high antigen groups (higher or lower than a selected diagnostic-based cut-off value). For evaluation of the prognostic value of CA19-9 and CEA, the disease-free interval was studied. Results: The disease-free interval of patients with a high serum levels of CA19-9 or CEA was significantly shorter than for those patients with a low serum level of the particular antigen (P