Effects of surgery on serum levels of CEA, CA 50 and CA 242 in individuals without malignant disease followed for twelve months

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to establish the influence of surgical procedures on serum levels of tumor markers (CEA, CA 50 or CA 242) in patients without malignant disease. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 199 patients (mean age 51 years) before and (one week and one, two, three, and twelve months) after surgery and analyzed for CEA, CA 50, CA 242. None of the patients had a malignant disease diagnosed before surgery or during three years after the first sample. Results: CEA revels one week and one, tow and three months after surgery were significantly lower than the preoperative levels, the lowest level i.e. 0.59 ng/ml lower than the preoperative level (p < 0.001) occuring one month after surgery. There was no influence of surgery on CA 50 or CA 242. The preoperative serum level of CEA was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (median 2.9 ng/ml vs. 1.9 ng/ml, p = 0.003) and the difference remained on all sampling occasions. Conclusions: Serum levers of CEA were lowered one week and one, two and three months after surgery. An increase of this marker is thus not related to the surgical procedure. No significant influence on serum levels of CA 50 and CA 242 was registered.