Estimated treatment responses in metastatic colorectal carcinoma based on longitudinal carcinoembryonic antigen series

Scand J Clin Lab Invest. 1993 Dec;53(8):829-34. doi: 10.3109/00365519309086495.

Abstract

Patients presenting with advanced or metastatic colorectal carcinoma were randomized to treatment with either 5-Fluoro-Uracil + leucovorin or 5-Fluoro-Uracil + interferon alpha-2-a. Longitudinal series of Carcino-embryonic-antigen were obtained and analyzed with a dynamic model in seven of 16 patients had CEA levels above 10 ng ml-1. Clinical evaluation based on X-ray, ultrasound and CT-scans showed a partial response to the given treatment in three of the seven patients. The dynamic model consistently estimated the maximal accumulated cell kill (approximately three logs) in the patients experiencing a clinical response. The remaining four patients with CEA levels above 10 ng ml-1 showed some reduction in CEA as a consequence of the treatment cycles, although no clinical response could be established. No response was seen among the remaining nine patients with CEA levels below 10 ng ml-1.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / analysis*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / blood
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Recombinant Proteins

Substances

  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil