The Role of Bile Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Diagnosing Bile Duct Cancer

Abstract

It is known that the fluids bathing tumors might contain a higher level of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) than those found in the blood. Therefore, we evaluated the role of bile CEA in diagnosing bile duct cancer. One hundred and thirty two patients were prospectively studied. The patients were divided into 3 groups: the bile duct cancer (n=32), pancreatic cancer (n=16), and benign biliary diseases (n=84) groups. Bile samples were obtained on the next day of the biliary drainage procedures. The mean bile CEA level in those with bile duct cancer (120.6±156.9 ng/mL) was significantly higher than those with pancreatic cancer and benign biliary diseases (32.0±28.5 ng/mL, 29.3±56.3 ng/mL). Using the level of 20 ng/mL, the sensitivity and specificity of bile CEA in the diagnosis of bile duct cancer from benign biliary diseases were 65.6% and 66.7%, respectively. Both the bile CEA and total bilirubin level were found to be an independent factor linked to bile duct cancer. This study result suggests that bile CEA level is a useful supplementary test for diagnosing bile duct cancer.

Fish and Food-Fatale: Food-borne Trematode Opisthorchis viverrini and Cholangiocarcinoma

“…This biomarker has high sensitivity and specificity, like CA-19-9. Ample researches have been published that highlight the diagnostic value of elevated CEA levels in bodily fluids in primary malignant tumors of the stomach, colon, biliary system, and pancreas ( Joo et al ., 2003 ; Loosen et al ., 2017 ). However, like CA19-9, CEA is not specific to CCA and can be elevated in other types of tumors, and CEA has low sensitivity and specificity as prognostic marker ( Kim et al ., 2021 ).…”