Introduction Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is one of important tumor markers for diagnosis and monitoring of colorectal cancers (CRC) Elevated concentration of CEA from normal level could be a sign of CRC. However, in early stages of CRC, CEA concentration could not be differentiable from normal range by the available tools This review shows that fluorescent features, and physical-chemical properties of GQDs composites has been applied in ECLimmunosensors for determination of CEA in early stages of CRC. Methods Relevant studies in the electronic database were chosen by the medline library. Only papers published in revent English have included. Results Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) as a powerful analytical technique has chemiluminescence and electrochemical analysis advantages such as wide response range and high sensitivity. High specific interaction of antigen and antibody has made electrochemiluminescence immunosensors as most important sensors for the specific analysis of CEA. Graphen quantum dots (GQDs) with unique electro-optical properties and biocompatibility have great potential applications in ECL sensing. Immobilization of antibodies on GQDs/Au@Pt improves performance of ECL immunosensor for CEA detection in serum samples between 1.0 pg/mL to 10 ng/mLwith the excellent detection limit of 0.6 pg/mL. ECL intensity of hydrazide GQDs /gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) immunosensor is decreased as a result of elevating CEA concentration (detection limit= 0.01 ng/mL). Additionally, ultrasensitive sandwich-type ECL immunosensor based on poly (5-formylindole) graphene oxide/Au nanoparticle/graphene quantum dots has been exhibited broad linear range between 0.1 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL as well as low detection limit of 3.78 fg/mL for CEA detection. Conclusion In conclusion, ECL immunosensors and aptasensors based on graphene-quantom dots composites could increase detection capability of CEA in the early stages of CRC because of their broad linear ranges as well as higher detection of limits.