Zeitschrift für Integrative Onkologie

The Serum Carcinoembryonic Antigen is Associated with HbA1c in Korean Non-Smokers

Abstract

Eun Kyung Choe and Hae Yeon Kang

Background: The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is widely used as a tumor marker because of its overexpression in adenocarcinomas, particularly colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolic factors including visceral obesity that are associated with serum CEA levels in non-smokers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 1958 Koreans (1181 males, mean age 54.6 ± 8.7 years) who underwent serum CEA level and computed tomography-based visceral fat area assessments on the same day as a screening examination. The subjects were divided into 2 groups according to their median CEA level (1.20 ng/mL). Results: The multivariable analysis revealed that CEA was associated with age (OR=1.029, 95% CI=1.017 – 1.040, P<0.001), being male (OR=1.650, 95% CI=1.210 – 2.250, P=0.002) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values (OR=1.386, 95% CI=1.103 – 1.742, P=0.005) but not with visceral fat area after adjusting for age, gender and other variables. Among the diabetic patients, the mean CEA level was significantly higher in the group with HbA1c values ≥ 7.0% than in those with HbA1c values<7.0% (P=0.023). After adjusting for confounding factors, the association between CEA levels and poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 7.0%) persisted (OR=2.331, 95% CI=1.323 – 4.108, P=0.003). Conclusion: A serum CEA level within the normal range was related to the HbA1c level but not to visceral fat in Korean non-smokers, particularly among those with poorly controlled diabetes.