Immunologic Factor
carcinoembryonal antigen
Subclass of:
Cell Adhesion Molecules; Antigens, Neoplasm; Biomarkers, Tumor
Definitions related to carcinoembryonic antigen:
  • A cancer-specific antigen associated with both tumors and the developing fetus. The main use of this antigen is as a tumor marker, especially with respect to intestinal cancers. Production of the antigen ceases shortly before birth, but may reappear in people who develop certain types of cancer.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A glycoprotein that is secreted into the luminal surface of the epithelia in the gastrointestinal tract. It is found in the feces and pancreaticobiliary secretions and is used to monitor the response to colon cancer treatment.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • A substance that is sometimes found in an increased amount in the blood of people who have certain cancers, other diseases, or who smoke. It is used as a tumor marker for colorectal cancer.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (carcinoembryonal antigen) Cancer specific antigen of colon carcinoma, also present in adenocarinomas of endodermal origin and in human embryonic gastrointestinal tissue.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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