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The Value of Tumor Markers in Colorectal Cancer

  • Conference paper
Rectal Cancer

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 146))

Abstract

Currently CEA is the most accurate tumor marker for colorectal cancer. Preoperative determination of this marker can assist staging, treatment planning and in particular postoperative follow-up of colorectal cancer. Postoperative CEA monitoring should be performed every 3 months. Further evaluation for local recurrence or metastatic disease is mandatory if elevated or increasing CEA levels occur after radical surgery. However, present data do not justify using CEA alone for postoperative follow-up and monitoring of adjuvant therapy. Molecular genetic techniques are now increasingly performed to detect genetic alterations that can be used as prognostic markers. In the future, identification and quantification of these genes may even be valuable in defining the susceptibility of healthy individuals for colorectal cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Robert Rössle Hospital, Humboldt University of Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, 13122, Berlin, Germany

    M. Hünerbein

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  1. M. Hünerbein
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Chirurgie und Chirurgische Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Robert-Rössle-Klinik, Lindenberger Weg 80, D-13125, Berlin, Germany

    Peter M. Schlag

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© 1998 Springer-Verlag Berlin · Heidelberg

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Hünerbein, M. (1998). The Value of Tumor Markers in Colorectal Cancer. In: Schlag, P.M. (eds) Rectal Cancer. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 146. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71967-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71967-7_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-71969-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-71967-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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