Role of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as a tumor marker in breast cancer

Abstract

Background: There is a need for biological prognostic indicators in breast cancer that would, alone or in combination with others, be sufficient to predict disease recurrence and, hence, be the basis for supplemental treatment after local therapy. Aims: To investigate the association between tumor marker serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and clinicopathological parameters in patients with breast cancer. Methods: A total of 134 patients with breast cancer treated in a single general surgery unit between January 2012 and November 2013 were included in the study, with age ranging between 28 and 73 years. Serum CEA values were compared before and after the treatment of breast cancer, between different histological types of breast cancer patients, between axillary lymphnode-positive and axillary lymphnode-negative patients, and between premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients. Data were analyzed using the statistical software SPSS version 19. Results: There was significant change in the values of serum CEA before (10.71 ± 2.79 ng/ml) and after the surgery for breast cancer (9.73 ± 3.00 ng/ml) (P < 0.006). There was further decline in the serum CEA level after a course of chemo-radiotherapy (7.30 ± 2.79 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the different histological types of breast cancer (P value 0.55). The difference was significant in patients who were axillary lymphnode positive and negative (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer patients (P value 0.86). Conclusions: Serum CEA is a tumor marker of breast carcinoma. Its level decreased after treatment. This decrease is found more after chemo/radiotherapy following surgery. Serum CEA values are found to be elevated in patients with axillary lymphnode metastasis. There is no significant relation with the histologic type of breast cancer and menopausal status of the patient.