Carcinoembryonic antigen in retinoblastoma. An immunohistochemical study.

Pathological amounts of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have earlier been reported in the plasma of patients with retinoblastoma, and it has been suggested that CEA determinations be used in the follow-up of treatment of these patients. In the present study, 47 retinoblastoma specimens from the years 1962-1982 were examined. These specimens represented different clinical and pathological tumour types. Colon adenocarcinomata positive for CEA were used as controls. The laboratory method was a highly sensitive immunohistochemical peroxidase-staining procedure. By this method, CEA was not found in any of the retinoblastomata examined. It is probable that retinoblastoma does not produce CEA, but in theory it may indirectly increase the CEA titre or, on the other hand, be fully independent of CEA. Only after this relationship has been thoroughly clarified can determinations of plasma CEA in patients with retinoblastoma be used in clinical work.