View source for Carcinoembryonic antigen

{{protein
|Name=carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5
|caption=
|image=
|width=
|HGNCid=1817
|Symbol=CEACAM5
|AltSymbols=CEA
|EntrezGene=1048
|OMIM=114890
|RefSeq=NM_004363
|UniProt=P06731
|PDB=
|ECnumber=
|Chromosome=19
|Arm=q
|Band=13.1-13.2
|LocusSupplementaryData=
}}
{{SI}}
{{CMG}}

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== Overview ==  

* '''Carcinoembryonic antigen''' ([[CEA]]) is a protein-polysaccharide complex
* Located in [[colon carcinoma]]s, fetal intestine, [[liver]] and [[pancreas]]
* Reference range: '''< 3 ug/l''' <ref>Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne.  Differential Diagnosis Pocket.  Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016</ref>

'''Carcinoembryonic antigen''' (CEA) is a [[glycoprotein]] involved in [[cell adhesion]]. It is normally produced during fetal development, but the production of CEA stops before birth. Therefore, it is not usually present in the blood of healthy adults, although levels are raised in heavy smokers. CEA was first identified in 1965 by [[Phil Gold]] and [[Samuel O. Freedman]] in human [[colon cancer]] tissue extracts.<ref>Gold P, Freedman SO. Demonstration of tumor-specific antigens in human colonic carcinomata by immunological tolerance and absorption techniques. ''J Exp Med'' 1965;121:439. PMID 14270243.</ref> It was found that [[blood plasma|serum]] from individuals with colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, lung and breast [[carcinomas]] had higher levels of CEA than healthy individuals.

CEA measurement is mainly used as a [[tumor marker]] to identify recurrences after surgical resection. Elevated CEA levels should return to normal after surgical resection, as elevation of CEA during follow up is an indicator of recurrence of tumour.

CEA levels may also be raised in some non-neoplastic conditions like [[ulcerative colitis]], [pancreatitis]] and [[cirrhosis]].

CEA and related [[genes]] make up the CEA family belonging to the [[immunoglobulin]] superfamily. In humans, the carcinoembryonic antigen family consists of 29 genes, 18 of which are normally expressed. <ref>Hammarstrom S. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family: structures, suggested functions and expression in normal and malignant tissues. ''Semin Cancer Biol'' 1999;9:67-81. PMID 10202129.</ref>
 
== Differential Diagnosis ==

In alphabetical order. <ref>Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:77 ISBN 1591032016</ref> <ref>Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:68 ISBN 140510368X</ref>

==== Increased ====
* [[Alcoholic Cirrhosis]]
* [[Breast Cancer]]
* [[Bronchial carcinoma]]
* [[Cervical Cancer]]
* [[Colorectal tumor]]s
* [[Gastric carcinoma]]
* [[Inflammatory Bowel Disease]]
* Inflammatory liver diseases
* [[Medullar thyroid carcinoma]]
* [[Ovarian Cancer]]
* [[Pancreatic Cancer]]
* [[Pancreatitis]]
* [[Emphysema]]
* [[Smoking]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{MeshName|Carcinoembryonic+Antigen}}

{{Clusters of differentiation}}
{{Cell adhesion molecules}}
{{Tumor markers}}
{{SIB}}
[[Category:Tumor markers]]
[[Category:Oncology]]
[[Category:Gastroenterology]]

[[de:Carcinoembryonales Antigen]]
[[fr:Antigène carcino-embryonnaire]]
[[it:Antigene carcino-embrionario]]
[[pl:Antygen rakowo-płodowy]]
[[fi:Karsinoembryonaalinen antigeeni]]
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