Serum tumor markers in patients with breast cancer.
Several serum tumor markers have been investigated in patients with breast cancer for assessing outcome, predicting recurrence and monitoring the therapeutic response. There is a general consensus concerning their limited application in diagnosing malignancy; however, serum tumor markers can be considered for the early detection of recurrence. The most effective markers for this indication are cancer antigens (CA)15-3 and 27.29, and c-erbB-2, although their efficacy in establishing disease progression has not been determined to date. In terms of evaluating prognosis and predicting response to therapy, only the expression of c-erbB-2 has clinical evidence. To conclude, at present, no serum tumor marker is cost effective, and none can be used with confidence in the decision making regarding breast cancer patients.
Department of Surgical and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, School of Medicine, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy. flumachi@unipd.it
Franco
F
Lumachi
Stefano M M
SM
Basso
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D023381:Endpoint Determination; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018396:Mucin-1; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C090797:CA 27-29 antigen