Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) extraction method to detect lymph node metastasis of lung cancer

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the feasibility of the diagnostic method for metastasis by measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) extracted from regional lymph nodes of CEA producing lung cancer.
Methods: CEA extracted from 109 regional lymph node stations of 16 CEA producing lung cancer patients, who received lobectomy with lymph nodes dissection, were examined. Lymph nodes were simply immersed in 10ml saline for 30min. and then were histologically examined. CEA protein in the saline was measured by immunoradiometric assay.
Results: The amount of CEA protein from 8 histological positive lymph node stations was significantly higher than that from 101 histological negative lymph node stations (49.9±119.0 vs. 0.41±1.22ng/ml, P<0.05). Among 101 histological negative lymph node stations, high concentration of CEA was detected in one lymph node station, which suggested the presence of micrometastases missed by histological examination.
Conclusions: These results implied that the CEA extraction method may be used in addition to histological examination to diagnose lymph node metastasis of CEA producing lung cancer.