Colorectal Tumor Marker Test - Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Test

The serum cancer-fetal antigen (CEA) test measures the level of a glycoprotein produced in large quantities during fetal development and which drops sharply after birth. In healthy adults, its levels are very low. However, levels can be significantly elevated in some malignancies, particularly colorectal cancer, as well as in other cancers (such as pancreatic, gastric, breast, and lung cancer). It is also elevated in non-cancerous inflammatory conditions such as smoking, colitis, and pancreatitis, which limits its usefulness in initial diagnosis.