Prognostic significance of preoperative to postoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen ratio after lobectomy for lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Lung adenocarcinoma with a preoperatively elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) value has a relatively poor postoperative prognosis. Although surgical resection generally results in a reduction in the CEA value, the significance of the change in the CEA value on the prognostic outcome remains unclear.

Methods: Our study included 133 patients who underwent lobectomy with curative intent for lung adenocarcinoma representing a preoperative CEA value > 5.