Gastric tissue carcinoembryonic antigen

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is an acidic glycoprotein with human embryonic determinants and has a molecular weight of 150-200kD. The CEA-encoding gene is located on chromosome 19. CEA is a large family related to cell surface glycoproteins and is part of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. Fetal and adult digestive tracts produce a small amount of CEA. Normal CEA is secreted into the gastrointestinal tract, while cancer cells that lose their polarity secrete CEA into the blood and lymph fluid, so CEA in blood increases.