CEA stands for carcinoembryonic antigen. CEA is a protein that is a type of " tumor marker ." Tumor markers are substances that are often made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer.
High levels of CEA are normal in healthy, unborn babies. After birth, CEA levels become very low or disappear completely. So, healthy adults should have little or no CEA in their bodies.
Cancers that may cause high levels of CEA include cancers of the:
- Colon and rectum (colorectal or bowel cancer)
- Prostate
- Ovary
- Lung
- Thyroid
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Breast
If you've been diagnosed with a cancer that can cause high CEA levels, CEA testing may help your health care provider learn more about your cancer and chance of recovery. The test is often used with other tests to check if cancer treatment is working.
CEA tests are not used to screen for or diagnose cancer. That's because:
- Cancers that often cause high CEA levels don't always cause high levels. You can have normal CEA test results even though you have one of these cancers.
- Many other health problems that aren't cancer can make CEA levels rise, including certain conditions that affect your liver, digestion, or breathing.
Most CEA tests use a sample of your blood to measure your CEA level. Sometimes the test uses a sample of fluid from your spine, chest, or abdomen (belly), but this is less common.
Other names: CEA assay, CEA blood test, carcinoembryonic antigen test