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carcinoembryonic antigen

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noun car·ci·no·em·bry·on·ic antigen \ˌkär-sə-nō-ˌem-brē-ˈä-nik-\

Definition of carcinoembryonic antigen

  1. :  a glycoprotein present in fetal digestive-tract tissues and in peripheral blood of patients with some forms of cancer

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First Known Use of carcinoembryonic antigen

1965

Medical Dictionary

carcinoembryonic antigen

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noun car·ci·no·em·bry·on·ic antigen \ˌkärs-ən-ō-ˌem-brē-ˌän-ik-\

Medical Definition of carcinoembryonic antigen

  1. :  a glycoprotein present in fetal gut tissues during the first two trimesters of pregnancy and in peripheral blood of patients with some forms of cancer (as of the digestive system or the breast)—abbreviation CEA

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