Carcinoembryonic Ag

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a protein produced by some cancer cells, particularly colorectal, lung, and breast cancers. A CEA test measures this protein in blood and is primarily used to monitor cancer treatment response and detect recurrence in patients with known cancer history. CEA levels can also be mildly elevated in benign conditions like inflammation, smoking, or certain infections, making it less useful as a screening tool for healthy individuals but valuable for cancer surveillance.