Abstract
Background & AimsThe utility of measuring carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) levels in patients with breast cancer remains controversial. The present study aims to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative serum CEA and CA15-3 levels in breast cancer patients.MethodsSerum preoperative CEA and CA 15-3 concentration levels were measured in a total of 432 breast cancer patients. The association of tumor markers levels with clinicopathological parameters and outcomes were analyzed.ResultsElevated serum levels of CEA and CA15-3 were identified in 47 (10.9%) and 60(13.9%) patients, respectively. Larger tumor size, advanced axillary lymph nodal and TNM stage exhibited higher proportion of elevated CEA and CA15-3 levels. The elevation of CEA levels was significantly greater in patients with HER2 positive tumors, and the elevation of CA15-3 levels was significantly greater in ER negative breast patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox’s regression analysis revealed that elevated preoperative CEA and CA 15-3 levels were independent prognostic factors for DFS and OS. When considering the combination of both markers levels, patients with both elevated markers presented the worst survival. Independent prognostic significance of elevated preoperative serum CEA and CA15-3 levels were reconfirmed in Luminal B breast cancer.ConclusionsPreoperative serum levels of CEA and CA15-3 are independent prognostic parameters for breast cancer.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in women and its incidence has been steadily increasing in China[1, 2]
The elevation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels was significantly greater in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive tumors, and the elevation of cancer antigen 15–3 (CA15-3) levels was significantly greater in estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast patients
Independent prognostic significance of elevated preoperative serum CEA and CA15-3 levels were reconfirmed in Luminal B breast cancer
Summary
Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in women and its incidence has been steadily increasing in China[1, 2]. Despite the rising incidence of breast cancer, the survival rates have improved in recent years due to the deep research in biology behavior of breast cancer[3, 4]. Once treatment failure occurs the quality of life and the survival rate of patients is significantly affected. It is essential to identify reliable prognostic factors to guide decision making during the treatment of breast cancer in order to improve prognosis. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15–3 (CA15-3) are the two most widely used serum tumor markers in the clinical fields for more than 30 years. The utility of measuring carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) levels in patients with breast cancer remains controversial. The present study aims to investigate the prognostic value of preoperative serum CEA and CA15-3 levels in breast cancer patients
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