title: A comparison between pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG), carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), CA-125, and CA-15-3 as tumor markers in breast cancer.
abstract: Pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein (alpha 2-PAG) has been advocated as a good marker for various malignant diseases, in particular carcinoma of the breast. Re-evaluation of previously published results was required and in this study the correlation between alpha 2PAG and CEA, CA-125, and CA-15-3 was investigated and the monitoring efficiency determined in comparison to these above mentioned markers. Overall monitoring efficiency of alpha 2-PAG was in the same range as the corresponding parameters of CEA and CA-125; specificity was very high at the expense of sensitivity, resulting in a high positive predictive value. Monitoring of such patients by alpha 2-PAG as sole marker is not recommended.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Bersinger
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rageth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D008875:Middle Aged; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins