ELEVATED CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN LEVELS CORRELATING WITH DISEASE RECURRENCE IN A PATIENT WITH ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMA

Background. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an oncofetal glycoprotei n involved in cell recognition and adhesion. Serum CEA has been extens ively studied as a potential chemical marker for malignancy, most nota bly in patients with colon carcinoma. Serum CEA measurements have not been reported for patients with salivary gland carcinomas. Methods. Se rum CEA was measured in a case study using enzyme immunoassay with mon oclonal antibody specific for CEA. Tissue was examined with standard h istologic and immunohistologic methods. Results. A patient was initial ly seen with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the trachea and had a m arkedly elevated serum CEA level which declined after surgical resecti on. The serum CEA level became elevated again when the patient develop ed abdominal metastases and then declined after debulking of the tumor . Immunohistochemical study of the tumor was positive for CEA. Conclus ions. The measurement of serum CEA levels may play a role in the manag ement of patients with ACC. Clinical investigation utilizing monoclona l antibodies against CEA, for imaging and for the delivery of chemothe rapy and radiotherapy may be worthwhile. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, I nc.