title: Does mca contribute to the follow-up of breast-cancer patients by ca-15-3.
abstract: Mucin-like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA) and CA 15-3 tumor markers were randomly assayed in 234 consecutive breast cancer patients. It was found that 45 patients (19.2%) had elevated MCA levels (cut-off level >14 U/ml) and normal CA 15-3 levels (cut off level >30 U/ml). In 14 of these 45 patients (31.1%), overt metastases were detected, although five had started their follow-up with no evidence of disease. In these five patients, the median lead time was nine months. In our limited experience, it was found that measuring MCA levels in the serum in the presence of normal CA15-3 levels contributes to early detection and monitoring of recurrences in follow-up of breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: BEILINSON MED CTR,ENDOCRINOL LAB,IL-49100 PETAH TIQWA,ISRAEL. BEILINSON MED CTR,INST ONCOL,IL-49100 PETAH TIQWA,ISRAEL. TEL AVIV UNIV,SACKLER FAC MED,IL-69978 TEL AVIV,ISRAEL.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fenig
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nordenberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Regev
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lurie
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sulkes