title: [Is follow-up of breast cancer with CEA and CA 15-3 justified?].
abstract: The significance of the tumor markers CEA and CA 15-3 for the oncological follow-up of breast cancer was examined in a retrospective analysis of 274 patients. Only 45% of 225 patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer showed in a period of 3 years normal values for both markers. 123 patients with increased markers in the same period were without evidence of tumor progression. Neither marker is suitable for the diagnosis of a local recurrence. In 32 cases of distant metastasis CA 15-3 is more sensitive than CEA (88%/63%), with an increase of 3% in sensitivity when analysing both markers simultaneously. The cut off level of CA 15-3 is problematic, 25 U/ml or 40 U/ml can be used as a threshold for tumoral activity. The use of tumor markers in the follow-up is not really justified so long as the prognosis or mortality of a patient is not changed by starting therapy early.
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Kantonsspital Winterthur.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fritsche
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benz
mesh_terms: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000601:surgery*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen
vernacular_title: Ist die Nachsorge beim Mammakarzinom mit den Tumormarkern CEA und CA 15-3 gerechtfertigt?