Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA): Separation of CEA-Reacting Molecules from Tumor, Fetal GW, Meconium and Normil Colon

Abstract

CEA-radioimmunoassays have been used on fractions obtained by electro-focusing samples of pooled primary carcinomas of the colon, normal colon, neonatal meconium, premature meconium and fetal gut. Comparison of protein, pH and CEA-profiles suggest that one embryonic, one neonatal and several cross-reacting “normal” CEA-reacting molecules exist. The embryonic form was not expressed in any of the normal colon extracts. Between 10–30X more CEA-reactivity was found in carcinomas compared with normal sources (na CEA/ ng protein X 100). Both quantitative and qualitative differences occur due to embryonic or neoplastic gene expression.