Value of circulating serum biomarkers CEA and LDH in patients with colorectal cancer

Introduction: Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells which tends to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and in certain cases depending upon the stage, cancer may metastasize involving adjacent organs and lymph nodes. Worldwide colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in men and 2nd most common cancer in women. In India the annual incidence rate of colorectal cancer in men is 4.1 to 4.4 per 1,00,000 people and in women it is 3.9 per 1,00,000 people. Tumor markers have an important role in all aspects of cancer care and have a momentum in early diagnosis, prognosis and screening for malignancy in asymptomatic groups. Objective: The aim of the study is to correlate the values of Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in colorectal cancer patients. Material and Methods: This was a case control study of clinically diagnosed 100 colorectal cancer patients and 100 age and sex matched healthy controls were studied. Colorectal cancer patients were diagnosed by clinically and histopathologically. Results: The mean LDH levels (189.83 ± 22.97 vs 173.66 ± 54.35, p< 0.007) and CEA levels (7.30 ± 3.350 vs 1.40 ± 0.625,p<0.001 ) are significantly higher in colorectal cancer patients as compared with controls. Conclusion: Serum lactate dehydrogenase (p<0.007) and Carcinoembryonic antigen (p<0.001) are elevated in colorectal cancer patients. CEA levels were significantly higher in colorectal cancer patients and showed positive sensitivity to remain the marker of choice in monitoring colorectal cancer.