title: Circulating immune complexes (CIC) as tumor marker in the follow-up of breast cancer.
abstract: We report on the possible diagnostic and prognostic role of circulating immune complexes (CIC) determination in breast cancer. A sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 90% were observed in a case-control study of 15 cancers and 25 noncancer healthy controls. A direct correlation of CIC level to the presence and probably to the entity of the tumor mass was assessed by comparing preoperative to postoperative CIC determinations in cancer cases: CIC levels were significantly lower after tumor removal. These preliminary results suggest further studies on the use of CIC determination in the follow-up of breast cancer for the early diagnosis of recurrent disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex