CEA (Carcinoembryonic antigen) has greatest utility in the management of cancer patients in whom changing concentrations of CEA are observed. Types of cancers which may have elevated CEA values include colorectal, gastric, breast, lung, prostatic, pancreatic and ovarian carcinoma. Serial testing for patient CEA should be used in conjunction with other clinical methods for monitoring cancer. CEA values obtained by other methods cannot be used interchangeably due to differences in assay methods and reagent specificity. Although not recommended, if used as a screening test, care must be taken in the interpretation of the results.
Source:
Abbott Alinity CEA reagent package insert: G71252R02. January 2017.