title: Is the carcinoembryonic antigen test a valid predictor of response to medical therapy in disseminated breast cancer?
abstract: In 30 of 63 patients with disseminated breast cancer, CEA became positive before medical therapy. Treatment response was obtained in 63.3% of CEA-positive patients compared to 15.2% of CEA-negative patients. The CEA-positive patients also had a longer relapse-free survival, a longer survival from diagnosis of metastases, and a longer overall survival from primary surgery than CEA-negative patients. CEA production appears to be an important and favorable prognostic factor in disseminated breast cancer and determinant of treatment response.
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000628:therapy; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen