Analysis of tumour marker CA 15-3 in breast cancer following surgery

Abstract

Background: CA 15-3 is a mucin belonging to a large family of glycoprotein’s encoded by the MUC1 gene. Elevated pre-operative CA 15-3 level is directly related to tumour burden and independent prognostic factors for breast cancer. It could be considered for clinical use such as predicting patient outcome and determining adjuvant treatment for better outcome. Methods: In this study 30 female patients diagnosed with carcinoma breast were staged according to TNM classification and Serum CA 15-3 level were assayed by ELISA method before surgery and one month after surgery. Results: In present study on comparing preoperative serum CA 15-3 level to the postoperative level, it was found that CA15-3 level falls following breast surgery. Patients with Stage I showed fall in CA 15-3 level and came to normal level i.e from 37.8 ±6.9 U/mL to 30.3±3.1u/ml. In Stage II there was also fall in CA 15-3 level in all patients but few patients Ca 15-3 level was still above normal i.e from 44.98±14.32 U/mL to 34.98±13.95/ml. In Stage III patients few showed fall in CA 15-3 levels but none came below normal whereas few patients showed rise in CA 15-3 level postoperatively compared to its preoperative level (p<0.001). Conclusions: Serial measurement of CA 15-3 are more important to detect recurrence or metastasis at any time after treatment but even single postoperative CA 15-3 value together with preoperative value is of great importance. If postoperative CA 15-3 level remains stable or increases, it indicates chances of recurrence.