Role of macrophage colony stimulating factor and carcinoembryonic antigen in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer

ABSTRACT

Hematopoietic cytokines [HCs] induce proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Moreover, the HCs receptors have been found on non hematopoietic tumor cell lines including colorectal cancer [CRC]. Elevated concentrations of several circulating cytokines, among which macrophage colony stimulating factor [M-CSF], have been previously shown in patients with colorectal carcinoma. Elevated serum concentrations of M-CSF have been found in a variety of malignant diseases. The aim of our study was to study the significance of combined M-CSF and carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] in the diagnosis of CRC and the association between of schistosomiasis endemicity and colorectal cancer