Abstract
8595 Background: CA 15–3, an epytope related with MUC-1 gene products, is a well known tumour marker to predict early recurrent disease breast cancer. MUC-1 expression can be detected in neutrophil membrane and cytoplasm. It is known that patients with breast cancer who receive adjuvant chemotherapy with G-CSF support may show CA 15–3 false positive elevations Methods: We identified by medical records 76 patients who received adjuvant sequential chemotherapy for breast cancer consisted in Doxorubicin/Ciclophosphamide for 4 cycles followed by Paclitaxel for 4 cycles every-2 (with haematopoietic support with Pegfilgrastim (Cohort A, n=29) or Filgrastim (Cohort B, n=10)) and every-3-weeks without haematopoietic support (cohort C, n=37) between October 2003 and November 2005. Mean values of CA 15–3 recorded at the first follow up (FU) visit after treatment and number of patients with levels above the cut-off value of 40 U/mL were compared between the three patients cohorts. Correlation between CA 15–3 with alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels measured at first FU and with absolute neutrophil count (ANC) mean values measured on day 14 of every cycle were performed for each cohort Results: Patients characteristics between cohorts were well balanced except for age. A statistically significantly difference in median CA 15–3 post-treatment values were observed between Cohort A and C (34.01 versus 22.3, p=0.001), but no between Cohort A and B (34.01 versus 30.53). Eight patients in Cohort A, 2 in B and 1 in C had CA 15–3 levels above 40 UI/mL (27.6% versus 20% versus 2.7%, p=0.009). CA 15–3 decreased to normal values at subsequent visits. CA 15–3, mean ANC (r= 0.272, p= 0.020), and AP (r= 0.361, p= 0.002) were found associated each other when the whole database was analyzed Conclusions: These data provide evidence that Pegfilgrastim induces elevation of CA 15–3 level in comparison with patients treated without G-CSF support. This elevation may be related to the increased neutrophil counts. Physicians should be aware of this fact during the follow up to avoid unnecessary diagnostic workup. [Table: see text]
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
