Cerebrospinal fluid tumor marker levels in predicting response to treatment and survival of carcinomatous meningitis in patients with advanced breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tumor marker levels in patients with breast cancer and carcinomatous meningitis.


METHODS
Serial CSF and serum tumor marker (CEA, CA-15.3, CA-125, and CA-19.9) measurements were performed in five patients with breast cancer developing carcinomatous meningitis in an attempt to correlate these with clinical outcome under treatment.


RESULTS
CSF tumor marker levels correlated with response to treatment and outcome in each patient; despite achieving negative CSF cytology after therapy, in two patients it heralded disease progression.


CONCLUSIONS
Given our findings, CSF tumor marker evaluation may provide a reliable means and surrogate end-points of monitoring response of carcinomatous meningitis to treatment. Therefore, large studies to assess the value of CSF tumor marker changes in carcinomatous meningitis are warranted.
Kosmas
Christos
C
Department of Medicine, 2nd Medical Oncology Division, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece. ckosm@ath.forthnet.gr
Tsavaris
Nicolas B
NB
Tsakonas
George
G
Soukouli
Georgia
G
Gassiamis
Argyris
A
Mylonakis
Nicolas
N
Karabelis
Athanasios
A
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor