title: Is serum beta 2 microglobulin a useful marker in patients with breast cancer?
abstract: In a study of 19 patients with breast cancer serum beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2 mu) was evaluated as a tumour marker. Serum beta 2 mu did not correlate with tumour stage, survival time, or histological differentiation grade. Nor did a change of serum beta 2 mu reflect a change of tumour mass. Additionally, serum beta 2 mu lacks specificity and sensitivity, as only 21% of our patients had an increased serum beta 2 mu.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin