title: CA 15.3 with urinary calcium excretion is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of bone metastases from breast cancer.
abstract: Serum levels of breast carcinoma antigen (CA 15.3) and urinary calcium excretion (UCa) were determined in 73 patients with breast cancer: 36 without bone metastases (stage I-IV) and 37 with bone metastases. The patients in the latter group were further investigated at 2, 4 and 6 months from the start of treatment. Both markers showed significant elevations in the group with bone metastases (CA 15.3: P = 1.0 x 10(-6), UCa: P = 8.6 x 10(-9)). The bone metastasis index (BMI), which represents the combination of the markers, had better diagnostic efficacy (90%) than CA 15.3 alone (84%) or UCa alone (82%). During treatment of bone metastasis, the longitudinal levels of the markers showed a highly significant association with the therapeutic response assessed by the UICC criteria. For identifying progression of disease, the diagnostic efficacy of CA 15.3, UCa and a combination of both, the so-called Biochemical Index of Response (BIR), was 65%, 70% and 79%, respectively, at two months and 89%, 84% and 92% at four months. Application of the tandem, CA 15.3 with UCa, was very useful for the detection of bone metastases and the prediction of response to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratories, al-Sabah Hospital, Safat-Kuwait.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Motawy
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Safadi
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002118:Calcium