Circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood may be detected using high-sensitivity molecular techniques in several types of solid neoplasms, but their significance in colorectal cancer is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) messenger RNA (mRNA) detection in peripheral blood samples from patients with colorectal cancer.
Department of Gastroenterology, Institut de Malalties Digestives, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.