OBJECTIVETo investigate the predictive value of preoperative detection of CEA and CA199 for prognosis in patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODSClinicopathological and follow-up data of 266 patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer confirmed by pathology and undergoing radical resection in our department from 2004 to 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between normal CEA patients and increased CEA ones, and normal CA199 patients and increased CA199 ones were compared respectively. Moreover, the risk factors of OS and DFS were examined.

RESULTSAmong these 266 patients, 119 (44.7%) had preoperative elevated CEA, and 74 (27.8%) had increased CA199. The median follow-up time was 63 months. Kaplan-Meier survival curves indicated that patients with elevated preoperative CEA had worse 5-year OS (54.6% vs. 72.8%, P=0.001) and DFS (75.2% vs. 83.3%, P=0.042) than those with normal CEA respectively. Meanwhile, patients with elevated CA199 had worse OS (45.9% vs. 71.9%, P=0.000) and DFS (74.2% vs. 81.8%, P=0.047) than those with normal CA199 respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that male (HR=3.016, 95% CI: 1.536-5.919, P=0.001), lymph node metastasis (HR=2.278, 95% CI: 1.272-4.081, P=0.006), and preoperative elevated CEA (HR=1.794, 95%CI: 1.022-3.149, P=0.042) were independent prognostic factors of DFS. While vascular thrombosis (HR=2.041, 95% CI: 1.294-3.221, P=0.002), lymph node metastasis (HR=2.480, 95% CI:1.548-3.972, P=0.000), and preoperative elevated CA199 (HR=2.145, 95% CI:1.414-3.254, P=0.000) were independent prognostic factors of OS in patients with stage II-III CRC.

CONCLUSIONCombined detection of preoperative CEA and CA199 can be used in evaluating the prognosis of patients with stage II-III CRC.