Clinical Usefulness of Cancer Markers in Primary Breast Cancer

A Verring,A Clouth,G M Oremek,P Ziolkowski

doi:10.5402/2011/817618

A Verring, A Clouth + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5402/2011/817618

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic power of CA 549, MSA and CA 15-3 in identifying breast cancer. The study included 232 patients of which 56 were healthy, 43 had benign breast cancer and 191 with other growths. The results were obtained using a specific immunoassay and using producers' cut offs. The following sensitivity and specificity of markers were found: CA 549 (sen.: 40%/spec.: 90%), MSA (sen.: 22%/spec.: 96%), and CA 15-3 (sen.: 33%/spec.: 86%). Ideal cut offs were defined with ROC curves. A significant correlation was found between CA 549, MSA, and CA 15-3. The combination of markers does not improve the clinical usefulness to identify only breast cancer. Serum tumor markers are abnormally elevated in patients with breast cancer. CA 549, MSA, CA 15-3 are useful clinical markers, good indicators of disease extent, and may have important prognostic value. This study demonstrates the role of the tumor markers in breast cancer.

Highlights

IntroductionAn ideal cancer marker for breast cancer would be clinically useful in many ways and, has been searched for decades [1–4]
An ideal cancer marker for breast cancer would be clinically useful in many ways and, has been searched for decades [1–4].CA 15-3 is regarded as the most suitable cancer marker and became established in the clinical routine worldwide
CA 549 is an antigen associated to breast cancer circulating in blood, which is defined by the monoclonal antibody BC4E 549 and which belongs to the polymorphic epithelium mucins (PEMs)

Summary

Introduction

An ideal cancer marker for breast cancer would be clinically useful in many ways and, has been searched for decades [1–4]. CA 15-3 is regarded as the most suitable cancer marker and became established in the clinical routine worldwide. Its sensitivity is still unsatisfactory in the early stages of primary breast cancer [5–11]. Two new cancer markers, CA 549 and MSA (mammary serum antigen) were put on the market [12–19]. In some cases, very promising sensitivity levels with a sufficient specificity. For example CA 15-3, CA 549, and MSA belong to the molecular family of breast mucins. CA 549 is an antigen associated to breast cancer circulating in blood, which is defined by the monoclonal antibody BC4E 549 and which belongs to the polymorphic epithelium mucins (PEMs). CA 549 is part of the human milk fat globulin proteins (HMFGPs)

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