Potential use of tumour marker CA 15-3 in the staging and prognosis of patients with breast cancer.
The tumour marker CA 15-3 has been assayed in 130 patients with breast cancer and correlated with stage of their disease at presentation. The median value of CA 15-3 (43 kU/l) in 26 patients with stage IV disease was significantly higher than the median for 97 patients classified as stage I or II (17 kU/l). Values were elevated in 18 of 21 (86%) patients with bone metastases at presentation. For the 41 patients with stage I or II disease presenting with levels of CA 15-3 of greater than 20 kU/l, the disease-free interval and survival were significantly less than for 56 patients presenting with levels of less than 20 kU/l. CA 15-3 provides additional information to conventional staging tests for patients presenting with breast cancer and may also have a role as a prognostic indicator. This may be particularly useful in the selection of patients for neoadjuvant therapy.
Department of Surgery, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK.
J M
JM
Horobin
M C
MC
Browning
N P
NP
McFarlane
G
G
Smith
P E
PE
Preece
R A
RA
Wood
A
A
Cuschieri
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor