title: Circulating CA 15-3 antigen levels in non-mammary malignancies.
abstract: Abnormal CA 15-3 antigen levels are found in the serum of most patients with advanced breast carcinoma. Elevations of this marker are less frequently seen in other malignancies. Circulating CA 15-3 levels might be useful in the differential diagnosis of the primary site of cancer. We studied the levels of CA 15-3 in 500 patients with different non-mammary cancers. Elevations of CA 15-3 (greater than 40 U ml-1) were observed in all types of epithelial malignancies, especially in ovarian (46%), respiratory (26%) and liver (30%) carcinomas. Abnormal values were observed in some patients with haematological malignancies and sarcomas, but not in melanoma or neurological tumours. CA 15-3 antigen levels correlated with the extent of non-mammary malignant tumours. Patients with locoregional cancer had a significantly smaller proportion of elevations of the antigen than those with distant metastases (12% versus 35%, P less than 0.001). In particular, elevated CA 15-3 levels were observed in 70% of patients with metastatic ovarian cancer. Liver involvement by cancer did not produce more elevations of CA 15-3 than metastases to other organs (32% versus 39%). Simultaneous determination of circulating CA 15-3 and CA 125 antigens in 58 patients with cancer of the ovary showed that CA 15-3 is elevated in some cases of ovarian carcinoma with non-elevated CA 125, and that CA 15-3 and CA 125 are distinct antigens. We conclude that circulating CA 15-3 antigen levels can be found elevated in virtually all types of cancer, particularly when distant metastases are present. Therefore, CA 15-3 levels should not be used in the differential diagnosis of the primary site in patients with metastatic malignancies of unknown origin. Evaluation of CA 15-3 levels may enhance the sensitivity of CA 125 in monitoring the course of ovarian carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, Valle de Hebrón Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colomer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruibal
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Genollà
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salvador
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate