# CEACAM5

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/ceacam5/  
OnCo record `ceacam5` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The classic 'CEA' tumour marker measured in blood, also present on the cell surface where ADCs can reach it.

## Summary

CEACAM5 is carcinoembryonic antigen, a GPI-anchored adhesion molecule that is shed into circulation as the serum CEA marker and also sits on the cell surface where ADCs and T-cell engagers can reach it. It is overexpressed in colorectal (80-90% moderate-to-high by IHC), gastric (50-60%), lung adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic cancers; only 20-25% of non-squamous NSCLC met the high-expression threshold used in CARMEN. Tusamitamab ravtansine failed in phase 3 NSCLC (CARMEN-LC03), a setback that raised questions about payload choice and patient selection rather than the target itself. CEACAM5 remains pursued with T-cell engagers and next-generation ADCs. The simple version is the classic CEA blood marker, now also being used as a surface target for drug delivery.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-04
- Tags: adc-target; biomarker
- Symbol: CEACAM5
- Class: surface-antigen
- Biology: GPI-anchored adhesion molecule; shed into circulation as the serum CEA marker.
- Where found: Colorectal; Gastric; Lung adenocarcinoma; Pancreatic

## Sources

- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinoembryonic_antigen
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinoembryonic_antigen

## Connected records

- biomarkers: [CEACAM5 expression](https://onco.cc/biomarkers/ceacam5-expression/)
- cancers: [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Gastric & gastro-oesophageal junction cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/gastric/), [Non-small-cell lung cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/nsclc/)
- drugs: [OSE2101](https://onco.cc/drugs/ose2101/), [Precemtabart tocentecan](https://onco.cc/drugs/precemtabart-tocentecan/), [SGM-101](https://onco.cc/drugs/sgm-101/), [Tusamitamab ravtansine](https://onco.cc/drugs/tusamitamab-ravtansine/)
- trials: [Dual-Target CAR-NK Cells for Biomarker-Selected Advanced Colorectal Cancer](https://onco.cc/trials/nct07462650/), [Dual-Targeting CAR-NK Cells in Biomarker-Selected Advanced Colorectal Cancer](https://onco.cc/trials/nct07589517/)
- ideas: [Re-map the tumour's surface proteins before choosing the next antibody drug](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-bio1-antigen-mapping-at-progression/)
- institutions: [Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University](https://onco.cc/institutions/mcgill-goodman/)
- pathways: [Lineage plasticity & neuroendocrine transformation](https://onco.cc/pathways/lineage-plasticity-neuroendocrine/)
- technologies: [CEA surveillance after colorectal cancer surgery](https://onco.cc/technologies/cea-surveillance-colorectal/), [Serum tumour markers: proper use and misuse](https://onco.cc/technologies/serum-tumour-markers/), [Thyroglobulin, calcitonin and CEA in thyroid cancer follow-up](https://onco.cc/technologies/thyroid-cancer-markers/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/ceacam5.json