CA242 and total antioxidant levels in comparison to CEA and CA 19-9 in colorectal cancer

We investigated the levels of CEA, CA 242,CA 19-9 and the total antioxidant status in 45 patients with colorectal cancer. Blood samples were obtained from 24 patients in the early postoperative phase, 16 patients in the late postoperative phase and 5 patients with recurrent disease. Statistical sign ificances were calculated in each group by the Mann-Whitney U test. No mean ingful difference was observed between the control and early or late postop erative groups. However, serum CEA levels were significantly different betw een the control and recurrent groups (p < 0.001). A meaningful difference w as also observed between the recurrent and early (p < 0.001) and late posto perative (p = 0.015) groups, respectively. Our study shows that CEA is the only tumor marker that can be used in monitoring colorectal cancer patients .