Normal CEA Levels Predict Improved Survival in Colorectal Peritoneal Metastases

Normal CEA levels (≤ 2.5 ng/ml) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (CRS/HIPEC) are associated with better survival in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastases (CRPM). A retrospective study on 253 CRPM patients showed that those with normal CEA levels after NACT had a median overall survival of 45.2 months, compared to 26.4 months for those with elevated CEA. Patients who normalized CEA levels post-surgery had similar survival to those with normal preoperative levels and better survival than those with elevated CEA postoperatively.