CA199 and CEA expression levels, and minimally invasive postoperative prognosis analysis in esophageal squamous carcinoma patients.

Background: This study explores the factors related to the expression levels of carbohydrate antigen 199 (CA199) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and their association with poor postoperative prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who underwent minimally invasive resection.

Methods: Eighty patients with ESCC who underwent minimally invasive surgery were divided into two groups: 40 with poor prognosis (recurrence) and 40 with good prognosis (no recurrence). Additionally, 80 healthy subjects were selected as a control group. Serum CA199 and CEA levels were measured before surgery and 3 and 6 months postoperatively.

Results: The serum CA199 and CEA levels in the experimental group were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Patients with poor prognoses within the experimental group had higher CA199 and CEA levels than those with good prognoses (P < 0.05). In the poor prognosis group, CA199 and CEA levels at 6 months were significantly higher than at 3 months post-surgery (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Poor prognosis in ESCC patients after minimally invasive resection may be influenced by factors such as lymph node metastasis, lesion length, and tumor location. Elevated CA199 and CEA levels postoperatively can serve as predictors of poor prognosis in patients with ESCC.