Serial determinations of carcinoembryonic antigen for early detection of recurrent gastric cancer.

In attempts to predict the recurrence of gastric cancer, postoperative changes in serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are monitored in our clinic by radioimmunoassay (Dainabot, Japan). Recurrences are suspected when serum CEA levels are 4 ng/ml, in the postoperative period. Out of 34 patients in whom there were increases in serum CEA, 18 were confirmed to have a recurrence and 15 of these 18 patients were assessed accurately by serial postoperative levels of CEA, two patients died of a recurrence after elevation of serum CEA levels. Thus, recurrence was predicted in 17 out of 34 patients (50 per cent) and in 12 out of 17 patients there was a metastasis to the liver. In 14 out of 34 patients there are no signs of recurrence 9 to 25 months after serum CEA elevations.