title: Comparison of breast cancer mucin (BCM) and CA 15-3 in human breast cancer.
abstract: The Breast Cancer Mucin (BCM) enzyme immunoassay utilizes two monoclonal antibodies (Mab), M85/34 and F36/22, for the identification of a mucin-like glycoprotein in serum of breast cancer patients. We have compared BCM with CA 15-3, another member of the human mammary epithelial antigen family. Serum BCM was evaluated in 151 and CA 15-3 in 134 patients with breast cancer, in 30 normal controls, in 9 pregnant women, and in 13 cancer patients (non-breast). Neither the normal controls nor the pregnant women had BCM levels greater than 25 U/ml. In contrast, 87 of 115 patients (75%) with metastatic breast cancer had BCM levels greater than 25 U/ml. All control persons had CA 15-3 levels less than 25 U/ml, but 2 out of 9 pregnant women (22%) had levels greater than 25 U/ml. Seventy-four out of 97 patients (76%) with metastatic breast cancer had CA 15-3 levels greater than 25 U/ml. A statistically significant correlation was found between BCM and CA 15-3 in the breast cancer patient group (r = 0.883, p less than 0.001, n = 134) and in the normal control group (r = 0.743, p less than 0.001, n = 30). BCM and CA 15.3 both showed no correlation with CEA in breast cancer patients (r = 0.060, n = 81; and r = 0.146, n = 78, respectively). BCM had a range of sensitivity similar to that of the CA 15-3 RIA. Our results suggest that BCM may be a useful new marker for monitoring the clinical course of patients with breast cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Endrocinology, Academic Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Blankenstein
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van der Wall
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Nortier
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Schornagel
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Thijssen
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; C057387:mucinous carcinoma-associated antigen