title: An evaluation of preoperative CA 15-3 measurement in primary breast carcinoma.
abstract: In this study of 500 patients with breast carcinoma, we have prospectively assessed the role of preoperative CA 15-3 as a marker of disease burden over a 7 year period. CA 15-3 levels at presentation correlate with stage of disease, tumour size, lymph node status, the presence of metastases and lymphocyte infiltration into the tumour. CA 15-3 alone is not an independent prognostic indicator, although a serum level of > 40 U ml-1 has a positive predictive value of 83% for the presence of advanced disease. We recommend the routine use of this marker in the preoperative assessment of primary breast carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University College Hospital, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: O'Hanlon
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kerin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Given
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017697:Premenopause; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D018396:Mucin-1; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen