CEA, CA19-9, circulating DNA and circulating tumour cell kinetics in patients treated for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Background: We previously reported that CEA kinetics are a marker of progressive disease (PD) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This study was specifically designed to confirm CEA kinetics for predicting PD and to evaluate CA19-9, cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumour cell (CTC) kinetics.

Methods: Patients starting a chemotherapy (CT) with pre-treatment CEA > 5 ng/mL and/or CA19.

[Red cell filterability, smoking and cardiovascular risk factors (author's transl)].

Red cell deformability, which allows cells of 7 mu diameter to flow through capillaries not larger than 3 mu, can be approached by the measure of blood filterability on nuclepore 5 mu filters. Filterability is reduced in arterial diseases. We have, in 72 patients, correlated red cell filterability, with the number of cardiovascular risk factors present high blood pressure, overweight, diabetes, hyperuricemia, hyperlipemia smoking).