PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN LEVELS IN TRANSOPERATIVE PERITONEAL LAVAGE IN PATIENTS WITH GASTRIC CANCER

BACKGROUND: The carcinoembryonic antigen level in peritoneal lavage has been showing to be a reliable prognostic factor in gastric cancer. AIM: To identify any association between carcinoembryonic antigen level in peritoneal lavage, in gastric cancer patients, with mortality, peritoneal recurrence, tumor relapse or other prognostic factors. METHODS: In total, 30 patients (22 men, 8 women; median age 66 years) with resectable gastric cancer (mainly stage III and IV) were studied. Carcinoembryonic antigen level in peritoneal lavage was detected at operation by immunocytochemical method and a level over 210 ng/g of protein was considered as positive. RESULTS: There were detected 10 positive cases (33.3%) of plCEA levels. These levels were associated with mortality, RR: 2.1 (p=0.018); peritoneal recurrence, OR: 9.0 (p=0.015); and relapse or gastric cancer progression, OR: 27.0 (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Increased levels of plCEA fairly predicts mortality, peritoneal recurrence tumor relapse or cancer progression.