We sought to determine the maternal serum levels of four tumor-associated a
ntigens during the three trimesters of pregnancy in healthy women. CEA, CA
228, CA 15-3, and Her2/neu oncogene product p105 assay values were determin
ed for 90 healthy pregnant women during the three trimesters of pregnancy a
t five participating evaluation sites. Results were compared to means and c
ut-off values determined for healthy nonpregnant women. Differences in assa
y values in the 1 st and 3rd trimester were analyzed for statistical signif
icance (Student's t-test). CEA, CA 228 and CA 15-3 assay values in general
were found to be within the normal range. CA 15-3 and Her2/neu p105 serum a
ssay values were above the cut-off (3.3% and 8.2%, respectively) and were s
ignificantly elevated in the 3rd trimester as compared to the 1st trimester
of pregnancy (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). CEA and CA 228 may be
of potential value in monitoring pregnant women with malignant disease. No
rmal elevations in 3rd trimester serum Her2/neu p105 and CA 15-3 assay valu
es should be considered when monitoring a pregnant patient with malignant d
isease. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.