Nakamura Y, Shida D, Tanabe T, et al. - Researchers examined whether in stage I-III rectal cancer patients who underwent curative resection without preoperative treatment, preoperatively elevated and postoperatively normalized carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels provide valuable prognostic information. From National Cancer Center Hospital, eligible individuals were assessed for overall survival (OS) and the hazard function of recurrence or death according to the CEA levels, as follows: normal preoperative CEA (normal group), preoperatively elevated but postoperatively normalized CEA (normalized group), and preoperatively and postoperatively elevated CEA (elevated group). Patients with preoperatively elevated and postoperatively normalized CEA had worse prognosis after resection of rectal cancer vs those with normal preoperative CEA. They suggest undertaking intensive follow-up among patients with elevated preoperative CEA even if levels normalize after resection, particularly in earlier periods, for early disclosure of recurrence.