CA-15.3, CEA AND TPA TUMOR-MARKERS IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST-CANCER RELAPSE

To evaluate the utility of CA 15.3 in detecting breast cancer relapse before clinical evidence of metastatic disease, serial determinations of CA 15.3 serum levels were made in 444 disease-free patients after s urgery, during 36 months of follow-up. The results were compared with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA). T he study found CA 15.3 to be more sensitive as an early indicator of r elapse than CEA or TPA; moreover, simultaneous determination of the ot her markers offers no information additional to that obtained by CA 15 .3 alone.