Utility of Serum Lipids and CEA Levels as Novel Markers in Comparison to Various Histopathological Parameters and TNM Staging in Colorectal Carcinoma: A Research Protocol

Introduction: Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most widespread type of cancer around the globe. Elevated Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) levels, a blood protein, are often observed in CRC patients. Need of the Study: Among gastrointestinal cancers, CRC is the most frequent cause of death. This research aims to investigate the potential link between serum lipid profiles, the levels of CEA, and the risk of developing CRC. Early detection and staging of CRC are crucial for effective management and improved outcomes. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of serum lipids and CEA levels as novel markers compared to different Tumour Node Metastasis (TNM) staging and histopathological parameters in CRC. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study will be conducted in the Department of Pathology at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India from October 2024 to April 2026. Peripheral blood samples will be collected from CRC patients to determine serum lipid profiles and CEA levels. Resected colon specimens will be processed and graded using TNM staging with appropriate staining. Karl Pearson’s test (data distributed normally) or Spearman’s test (data distributed non normally) will be used to conduct a correlation between continuous variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.