What condition is monitored using the CEA tumor marker?

The CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) tumor marker is primarily associated with monitoring colon cancer. CEA levels can be elevated in individuals with certain types of cancer, particularly adenocarcinomas, which includes colon cancer. It is often used to monitor treatment response and disease recurrence after surgical treatment. While CEA can also be elevated in other conditions and cancers, including breast cancer and some gastrointestinal cancers, its most significant and established role is in the context of colon cancer management, making it the most relevant choice in this scenario. This specificity to colon cancer highlights the importance of using tumor markers in targeted cancer monitoring.