title: Tumor markers cancer antigen 15.3, carcinoembryonic antigen, and tissue polypeptide antigen for monitoring metastatic breast cancer during first-line chemotherapy and follow-up.
abstract: We investigated whether model systems integrating stochastic variation into criteria for marker assessment could be used for monitoring metastatic breast cancer. A total of 3989 serum samples was obtained from 204 patients receiving first-line chemotherapy and from 112 of these patients during follow-up. Each sample was analyzed for cancer antigen 15.3, carcinoembryonic antigen, and tissue polypeptide antigen. The efficiency for identifying progression and nonprogression was 94% during therapy and 85% during follow-up, with no false-positive marker results for progressive disease. At clinical progressive disease, the median positive lead time was 35 days during therapy and 76 days during follow-up. Tumor marker assessment may document that a therapy is effective and ought to be continued in spite of adverse toxic effects, and that a treatment is ineffective and should be stopped to prevent unnecessary toxicity. Marker information may also be useful in studies investigating whether early treatment during follow-up will alter the prognosis of metastatic breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sölétormos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schiøler
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skovsgaard
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dombernowsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D018396:Mucin-1; D010455:Peptides; D019396:Tissue Polypeptide Antigen