The contribution of the CEA marker to CA 15.3 in the follow-up of breast cancer

Purpose of investigation: The clinical use of tumor markers during breast cancer follow-up is still surrounded by controversy. The objective of this study consisted of determining the contribution of the CEA marker to CA 15.3 in the follow-up of breast cancer patients as applied to clinical practice.

Methods: Three hundred and eighteen cases of women with breast cancer were analyzed retrospectively as far as the sensitivity, the specificity and the positive and negative predictable values of the CA 15.3 and CEA markers.

Results: Of the 318 patients, 59 suffered a relapse during the study. After evaluation of both markers the sensitivity was 56.8% (CA 15.3: 47.4%), the specificity 85.3% (CA 15.3: 88.4%), the positive predictable value was 46.4% (CA 15.3: 48.2%) and the negative predictable value was 89.41% (CA 15.3: 88%).

Conclusions: The low sensitivity of studied tumor markers proved of limited use on a clinical scale.

Breast cancer; Tumor markers; CA 15.3; CEA; Follow-up

[1] Rosen P. R., Groshen S., Saigo P. E., Kinne D. W., Hellman S.: "A long-term follow-up study of survival in stage I (TINO MO) and stage II (TINIMO) breast carcinoma". J. Clin. Oneal., 1989, 7, 355.

[2] Hayes D. F.: "Serum (circulating) tumor markers for breast cancer". Recent Results Cancer Res., 1996, 140, 101.

[3] Gold P., Freedman S. 0.: "Specific carcinoembryonic antigens of the human digestive system". J. Exp. Med., 1965, 122, 467.

[4] Kufe D., Inghirami G., Abe M., Hayes D., Justi-Wheeler H., Schlom J.: "Differential reactivity of a novel monoclonal antibody (DF3) with human malignant versus bening breast tumors". Hybridorna, 1984, 3, 223.

[5] Winchester D. P., Sener S. F., Khandekar J. D., Oviedo M. A., Cunningham M. P., Caprini J. A. et al.: "Symptomatology as an indicator of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer". Cancer, 1979, 43, 956.

[6] Stierer M., Rosen H. R.: "Influence of early diagnosis on prognosis of recurrent breast cancer". Cancer, 1989, 64, 1128.

[7] Broyn T., Froyen J.: "Evaluation of routine follw-up after surgery for breast carcinoma". Acta Chir. Scand., 1982, 148, 401.

[8] American Society of Clinical Oncology: "Clinical practice guidelines for the use of tumor markers in breast and colorectal cancer". J. Clin. Oneal., 1996, 14, 2843.

[9] Bast Re. Jr.,R avdin P.,H ayes D. F.,B ates S.,F ritsche H. Jr,J essup J. M. et al.: "2000 update of recommendations for the use of tumor markers in breast and colorectal cancer: clinical practice guidelines of the American Society of Clinical Oncology". J. Clin Oncol., 2001, 19, 1865.

[10] Lumachi F., Brandes A. A., Boccagni P.. Polistina F., Favia G., D'amico D. F.: "Long-term follow-up study in breast cancer patients using serum tumor markers CEA and CA 15-3". Anticancer Res., 1999, 19, 4485.

[11] Lauro S., Trasatti L., Bordin F., Lanzetta G., Bria E., Gelibter A et al.: "Comparison of CEA, MCA, CA 15-3 and CA 27-29 in follow-up and monitoring therapeutic response in breast cancer patients". Anticancer Res., 1999, 19, 3511.

[12] Slitterlin M., Bussen S., Trott S., Caffier H.: "Predicitve value of CEA and CA 15-3 in the follow up of invasive breast cancer" Anticancer Res., 1999, 19, 2567.

[13] Sauer H.: "Significance of tumor markers during the follow-up of women without symptoms after treatment of primary breast cancer". Anticancer Res., 1997, 17, 3059.

[14] Molina R., Jo J., Filella X., Zan6n G., Farrus B., Munoz M. et al. "C-erbB-2 CEA and CA 15.3 serum levels in the early diagnosis of recurrence in breast cancer patients". Anticancer Res., 1999, 19, 2551.