BIOLOGIC EVALUATION OF TUMOR-ASSOCIATED GLYCOPROTEIN-72 AND CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN EXPRESSION IN COLORECTAL-CANCER .1.

Tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 has been recently suggested as a new serum marker for colorectal cancer. In fact, approximately 40 percent of colorectal cancer patients have positive tumor-associated glycoprot ein-72 serum levels at the time of diagnosis, while only 3 percent of patients with benign diseases are positive. A longitudinal evaluation of colorectal cancer patients suggested the utility of combining the m easurement of tumor-associated glycoprotein-72 with that of carcinoemb ryonic antigen to monitor disease status not only at the time of diagn osis, but also at the time of recurrence. Several reports have indicat ed that the expression of some tumor antigens in colorectal adenomas m ay correlate with those parameters conventionally considered as indica tive of malignant transformation. The presence of tumor-associated gly coprotein-72 in colorectal adenomas has been recently correlated with preneoplastic lesions, suggesting that tumor-associated glycoprotein-7 2 may be considered as an early marker of neoplastic transformation. T he evaluation of tumor antigens can be considered a new tool in the ma nagement of colorectal cancer.