Prognostic Impact of Preoperative Tumor Markers in Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between preoperative CA19-9, CEA, CA125, and AFP levels of and prognosis for patients diagnosed with colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, which involved 400 CRC patients treated with radical resection between January 2022 and December 2024 and categorized into two groups: development (n = 280) and validation (n = 120). Clinicopathological data, including age, gender, operative method, tumor size, tumor location, TNM stage, CA19-9, CEA, CA125, and AFP, was assessed. The patients got checked up every three months for the first year, and then every six months afterwards. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that age (> 70 years), tumor staging, N-stage, preoperative CA125, and CA19-9 were associated with the prognosis of CRC patients. Univariate analysis revealed that tumor size (p = 0.026, HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 0.81 - 3.35) and CEA (p = 0.029, HR = 2.73, 95% CI = 0.24 - 4.42) were associated with the prognosis of CRC patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the prognostic impact of the tumor markers CA125, CA19-9, and CEA in patients with nonmetastatic CRC.