Importance of CEA and CA 15-3 during disease progression in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Abstract

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study analysis was to determine the correlation between elevation of CEA and/or CA 15-3 and disease progression of metastatic breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 119 breast cancer patients who had metachronous metastases. We evaluated levels of CEA and CA 15-3 at the time of first recurrence and at every further disease progression (PD). RESULTS: Increasing value levels of CEA as well as CA 15-3 were found in correlation to the number of PD with a continuously increasing sensitivity in the detection of metastatic disease for each marker alone and especially in combination. At the first time of distant metastasis, CEA and CA 15-3 were above the 95th percentile of healthy individuals in 53.5% and 71.8%, respectively. During disease progression the sensitivities were: 1st PD for CEA/ CA 15-3 54.1%/ 70.6%, 2nd PD 63.5%/ 81.2% and 3rd PD 68.6%/ 90%. CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between elevation of CEA and/or CA 15-3 and disease progression, in breast cancer patients.