CLINICAL-VALUE OF CA-15-3, MUCIN-LIKE CARCINOMA-ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN, TUMOR POLYPEPTIDE ANTIGEN, AND CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN IN MONITORING EARLY BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS

A total of 209 postsurgical breast cancer patients were prospectively monitored with simultaneous serum level estimations of CA 15-3, mucin- like carcinoma-associated antigen (MCA), tumor polypeptide antigen (TP A), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA); 141 (67.5%) were free of recur rence and 68 (32.5%) developed metastases during the follow-up. The me an values of tested tumor markers differed significantly in those with progressive disease compared with those free of disease recurrence. T he sensitivity of tumor markers were CA 15-3, 68.2%; CEA, 34.1%; MCA, 72.7%; and TPA, 72.7%. The combination of CA 15-3 with TPA or MCA with TPA showed a trend for improved sensitivity of both markers (p = 0.06 ), with no significant loss of specificity (p = 0.11). The addition of CEA to CA 15-3 or MCA does not provide additional information for cli nical evaluation. Patients with elevated tumor marker determinations h ad significantly shorter survival than those with values within the no rmal range. Two serial, progressively increasing values of tumor marke rs during the follow-up strongly predict recurrence. This study indica tes that the comeasurement of CA 15-3 with TPA or MCA with TPA is just ifiable in monitoring breast cancer patients postoperatively.