COMPARISON OF THE CLINICAL RELEVANCE OF CEA, CA-15-3 AND MCA IN BREAST-CANCER

Background: Tumor marker determinations are helpful parameters in the control and follow-up of the clinical course of neoplastic diseases. T he serum concentrations of the three tumor markers CEA, CA 15-3 and MC A have been evaluated to comparatively investigate their clinical rele vance in boast cancer patients. Patients and Methods: Simultaneous det erminations of the serum concentrations of the three tumor markers CEA , CA 15-3 and MCA were performed in 419 sequential breast cancer patie nts. CEA and MCA were determined by means of enzyme immunoassays and C A 15-3 by a radio-immunoassay. Results: The serum concentrations of al l three tumor markers correlate with tumor activity and tumor mass. Th e receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves show that CA 15-3 ha s the greatest sensitivity and specificity. All three tumor markers di d not reveal any dependence on age, but on the location of metastases; the median serum values decrease in the following sequence: osseous, visceral, and soft-tissue metastases. With a combination of tumor mark ers, the gain in sensitivity is associated with a loss of specificity, the combination of CEA + CA 15-3 appears to be the most favorable one . The combination of all three tumor markers does not show any advanta ge over the double combination CEA + CA 15-3. Conclusions: CA 15-3 has the highest sensitivity and specificity. As a combination of tumor ma rkers CA 15-3 + CEA is recommended in breast cancer patients.