what is cea
CEA is a type of glycoprotein molecule that is produced by cells of the gastrointestinal tract during embryonic development. It is produced in very small amounts after birth.The level of CEA in the bloodstream is thus relatively low unless certain diseases-including certain forms of cancer-are present.he most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. Others include cancers of the pancreas, stomach, breast, lung, and medullary carcinoma of the thyroid and ovarian cancer.