CEA REDUCTION AFTER CRYOTHERAPY FOR LIVER METASTASES FROM COLON-CANCER PREDICTS SURVIVAL

Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in 33 Australian patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer were measured before an d after treatment with hepatic cryotherapy and intra-arterial chemothe rapy. Pre-operative and monthly postoperative CEA measurements were ma de and the lowest postoperative reading was recorded as a percentage f all from the pre-operative level. There was a highly significant assoc iation between the maximum percentage fall in CEA and survival. A 50% increase in the maximum percentage fall in CEA level was associated wi th one-tenth the risk of death (95% CI RR 0.03 to 0.32, Cox regression ). It is estimated that an increase in the maximum percentage fall in CEA of 50% from 25 to 75% was associated with an increase in the media n survival from 240 days to over 2 years.