Carcino Embryonic Antigen (CEA)

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein normally produced during fetal development and present at very low levels in healthy adults. The CEA blood test is primarily used to monitor cancer progression, response to therapy, and recurrence, especially in colorectal cancer. Elevated CEA levels may also be seen in cancers of the pancreas, stomach, lung, breast, and ovary, as well as in non-cancerous conditions such as smoking, liver disease, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and infections. CEA is not recommended as a screening test for cancer but is highly useful for follow-up and prognostic evaluation when interpreted with clinical findings and imaging.