Serial serum MCA measurements in the follow-up of breast cancer patients.
Mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) was serially assayed in 58 women with histologically proven breast cancer after their treatment for primary disease. MCA sensitivity and specificity were 87.5% and 76.9%, respectively, and the positive predictive value 82.4%. 10 patients had elevated MCA and no evidence of disease (NED) during their follow-up, of whom 4 finally developed overt metastases. The 4 had a mean (S.D.) MCA value of 46.48 (18.26) U/ml during the lead time, versus 18.76 (2.69) U/ml in the other 6, who are still at high risk for developing overt metastases. Raised levels of MCA in patients with NED create a dilemma of "treat" versus "wait and see". Early treatment of patients with serially uprising MCA levels should be evaluated in a prospective randomised study to assess its ability to prevent or delay the development of overt metastatic disease and influence survival.
Merimsky
O
O
Department of Oncology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Inbar
M
M
Hareuveni
M
M
Witenberg
B
B
Wolman
Y
Y
Chaitchik
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C057387:mucinous carcinoma-associated antigen