Contents of tissue CEA and CA19-9 in colonic polyp and colorectal cancer, and their clinical significance.

In precancerous states or early cancer, the serum levels of tumor markers are almost not detectable. Therefore, the tissue contents of CEA and CA19-9 were measured in 48 colonic polyps, 8 colorectal cancers and 5 normal colonic mucosa. These tissue specimens were obtained by endoscopic polypectomy, surgery or autopsy, and homogenated in normal saline (10 ml/wet g of tissue). After centrifugation, the supernatant was assayed by enzyme or radioimmunoassay. There was no correlation between serum levels and tissue contents of CEA or CA19-9 in colonic adenomas and colorectal cancers. The mean contents of tissue CEA and CA19-9 in colonic polyp and colorectal cancer were significantly higher than normal colonic mucosa, and the highest contents of CEA and CA19-9 were found in colorectal cancer. The contents of tissue CEA and CA19-9 in cancerous regions were markedly increased as compared with noncancerous regions. In adenomas, there was a relationship between the degree of histological dysplasia and the tissue content of CEA. Relationships were also found between macroscopic findings and tissue tumor markers in adenomas. These results suggest the possibility that the measurement of tissue tumor markers may be useful for borderline colonic lesions.