Carcinoembryonic antigen as a predictive factor for postoperative tumor relapse in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To clarify the usefulness of measuring serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) preoperatively to detect patients who will have a poor outcome after surgery, and who cannot be selected by conventional staging modalities.

Methods: One hundred patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung underwent standard surgical procedures between 1994 and April 2001 at our institution. Preoperative staging was assessed according to the TNM classification of the International Union Against Cancer.