
What Causes Elevated CEA Levels Inspite Of Suffering From Colon Cancer?

Question: If chemotherapy not working on colon cancer pt who has a liver met and a node, what option is there? The primary has been removd last year.
But cea incesing by 1 point each month since october
But cea incesing by 1 point each month since october
Brief Answer:
Adjuvant treatment options can be helpful.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
The only major possible cause of elevated CEA in your case is solitary liver metastasis which is responsible for causing elevations in CEA.
The prime treatment option in your case is resection of liver metastasis through
1.Radiofrequency ablation
2.Cryotherapy.
3.Hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agent like Floxuridine.
4.Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin,Fluorouracil and leucovorin-FOLFOX regimen.
5.Addition oF Bevacizumab.
The last two regimes are also effective in treating the lymph nodal mets as well.
Post your further queries,if any.
Thank you.
Adjuvant treatment options can be helpful.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
The only major possible cause of elevated CEA in your case is solitary liver metastasis which is responsible for causing elevations in CEA.
The prime treatment option in your case is resection of liver metastasis through
1.Radiofrequency ablation
2.Cryotherapy.
3.Hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agent like Floxuridine.
4.Adjuvant Chemotherapy with Oxaliplatin,Fluorouracil and leucovorin-FOLFOX regimen.
5.Addition oF Bevacizumab.
The last two regimes are also effective in treating the lymph nodal mets as well.
Post your further queries,if any.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


So can this 1 liver met cause cea rise even on chemo? If ablation is done can person survive up to 5 years?
Is it not quite strange that each
Month its increasing by exact 1 point ?
Is it not quite strange that each
Month its increasing by exact 1 point ?
Brief Answer:
Solitary liver met can lead to elevated CEA.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
Yes even single Liver Met can cause elevated CEA even in presence of chemotherapy.
The overall survival rate 5 year survival rates mainly depends on the stage of colon cancer. at the time of diagnosis.
Ablation alone cannot prolong the life span by 5 years.Other factors also guide survival in cancer patients.
Yes its not strange for CEA elevations to raise by 1 point.Its a possibility.
Thank you.
Solitary liver met can lead to elevated CEA.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
I understand your concern.
Yes even single Liver Met can cause elevated CEA even in presence of chemotherapy.
The overall survival rate 5 year survival rates mainly depends on the stage of colon cancer. at the time of diagnosis.
Ablation alone cannot prolong the life span by 5 years.Other factors also guide survival in cancer patients.
Yes its not strange for CEA elevations to raise by 1 point.Its a possibility.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar


Does it make a difference then if first diagnosed with stage 4 ? My dad was stage 3 diagnosed.
Also an further mets appear in 3 months ?as he has been on irinotecan since october and had a scan yesterday
Also an further mets appear in 3 months ?as he has been on irinotecan since october and had a scan yesterday
Brief Answer:
Stage 3 and 4 have very little 5 yr survival possibility.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
Yes certainly stage at diagnosis will have impact on the overall survival.
The overall rate of survival is very much decreased in presence of stage 4 disease.
Stage 3 has 5 year survival rates under 30%.
Further Mets can appear in presence of chemotherapy even in a short span of even 3 months.
This can happen in presence of incompetent chemotherapy or new acquired mutations within the cancer cells leading to mets formation.
Thank you.
Stage 3 and 4 have very little 5 yr survival possibility.
Detailed Answer:
Hi Mam,
Yes certainly stage at diagnosis will have impact on the overall survival.
The overall rate of survival is very much decreased in presence of stage 4 disease.
Stage 3 has 5 year survival rates under 30%.
Further Mets can appear in presence of chemotherapy even in a short span of even 3 months.
This can happen in presence of incompetent chemotherapy or new acquired mutations within the cancer cells leading to mets formation.
Thank you.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad

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