Importantly, whereas CEA values were able to discriminate CRC samples better than the humoral response to p73, ∆Np73α, and ∆Np73β individually or combined, and at similar levels the pathological group from the control group, results were significantly better for the humoral response to detect premalignant individuals (Figs 3 and S3). The gene discussed is CEACAM5; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.