Indicator Explainer
Carcinoembryonic Antigen
A cancer-specific antigen associated with both tumors and the developing fetus. The main use of this antigen is as a tumor marker, especially with respect to intestinal cancers. Production of the antigen ceases shortly before birth, but may reappear in people who develop certain types of cancer.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C25159. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0. Source identity and definition checked automatically on 2026-10-18. No individual clinical interpretation or human reviewer is asserted.
Reading results
Reference intervals and interpretation depend on the laboratory, specimen, method and clinical context. This source definition is educational information; it does not establish a diagnosis, product approval or suitability for an individual.
Also Known As
References
- NCI Thesaurus 26.09d — Carcinoembryonic Antigen (C25159)
- Source: National Cancer Institute, NCI Thesaurus 26.09d, C25159. NCI definition, reproduced without modification under CC BY 4.0.
- Index-window C-reactive protein and carcinoembryonic antigen and five-year all-cause mortality in Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White patients with colorectal cancer: a retrospective biomarker cohort study. — Future Sci OA, 2026-10-08 (PMID 42848519; literature)
- Soluble polymeric system reducing non-specific interactions in plasmonic biosensor-based detection of carcinoembryonic antigen. — Anal Bioanal Chem, 2026-10-07 (PMID 42844449; literature)
- Tissue carcinoembryonic antigen as a superior independent prognostic factor for colorectal cancer over serum CEA: a retrospective cohort study. — Neoplasma, 2026-10-06 (PMID 42834664; literature)
- Association of serum chromogranin A and carcinoembryonic antigen with prevalent metastatic disease in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. — Pol Arch Intern Med, 2026-10-01 (PMID 42820656; literature)