title: Tumor markers in breast cancer- European Group on Tumor Markers recommendations.
abstract: Recommendations are presented for the routine clinical use of serum and tissue-based markers in the diagnosis and management of patients with breast cancer. Their low sensitivity and specificity preclude the use of serum markers such as the MUC-1 mucin glycoproteins (CA 15.3, BR 27.29) and carcinoembryonic antigen in the diagnosis of early breast cancer. However, serial measurement of these markers can result in the early detection of recurrent disease as well as indicate the efficacy of therapy. Of the tissue-based markers, measurement of estrogen and progesterone receptors is mandatory in the selection of patients for treatment with hormone therapy, while HER-2 is essential in selecting patients with advanced breast cancer for treatment with Herceptin (trastuzumab). Urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 are recently validated prognostic markers for lymph node-negative breast cancer patients and thus may be of value in selecting node-negative patients that do not require adjuvant chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Hospital Clinic, Medical School, Barcelona, Spain. rmolina@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barak
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Dalen
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Einarsson
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gion
authors.forename: Helenka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goike
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lamerz
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nap
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sölétormos
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stieber
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor