The Diagnostic Value of Colorectal Cancer Using SAA, MIC‐1, CEA, and CA125

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is often diagnosed at advanced stages due to the lack of early symptoms. Conventional screening methods have limitations in sensitivity and patient compliance. Tumor biomarkers may provide a less invasive and more accurate diagnostic approach. Methods This retrospective study analyzed serum levels of serum amyloid A (SAA), macrophage inhibitory cytokine‐1 (MIC‐1), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) in 186 patients with CRC and 180 healthy controls recruited between December 2022 and June 2024. Differences in biomarker levels between groups were assessed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Associations with TNM stage, pathological grade, and lymph node metastasis were evaluated using Spearman’s correlation analysis. Diagnostic performance was determined by constructing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results CRC patients showed significantly higher serum levels of SAA, MIC‐1, CEA, and CA125 compared with controls (all p < 0.001). Biomarker levels were positively correlated with each other and significantly associated with TNM stage, pathological grade, and lymph node metastasis. ROC analysis revealed AUC values of 0.76 (SAA), 0.74 (MIC‐1), 0.81 (CEA), and 0.78 (CA125). The combined biomarker panel achieved an AUC of 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94–0.98; p < 0.001), with 90.9% sensitivity and 90.6% specificity, significantly outperforming individual markers. Conclusion Serum SAA, MIC‐1, CEA, and CA125 are significantly elevated in CRC and correlate with tumor stage and metastasis. Their combined assessment provides superior diagnostic accuracy and may serve as a valuable noninvasive tool for CRC screening.