Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels – Dr. John Sangwon Lee's Pediatric Updates

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels vary depending on a number of factors, including smoking status, type of cancer, and stage of cancer:

Source- Google

- Normal levels
  
  For healthy, non-smoking adults, CEA levels are usually less than 3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Smokers may have slightly higher levels, up to 5 ng/mL.
- Elevated levels
  
  CEA levels above 2.9 ng/mL are generally considered abnormal, but they don’t necessarily indicate cancer.

Higher likelihood of recurrence

CEA levels above 10 ng/mL before treatment may indicate a higher likelihood of recurrence and a poor prognosis.

Metastatic disease

CEA levels above 20 ng/mL are usually associated with metastatic disease in breast and colon cancers.

Response to treatment

A return to normal CEA levels after treatment usually means that the cancer has responded to treatment. A steadily rising CEA level after treatment often means that the cancer has returned.

Carcinoembryonic Antigen – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

Jan 23, 2023 — Ranges. In healthy, non-smoking adults, CEA is considered within normal limits at a level of <=3.0 µg/L. Smokers may h…
CEA Test (Carcinoembryonic Antigen): What It Is & Results

The normal range for CEA is 0 to 2.5 nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng/mL). If CEA levels remain elevated during treatment, the treatment may not have been as successful as hoped. Anything greater than 10 ng/mL suggests extensive disease, and levels greater than 20 ng/mL suggest the cancer may be spreading.