CEA and CA 15-3 Serum Level in Metastatic Breast Cancer and its Correlation with Distant Metastasis
S. M. Hosseini1*, S. Razmjoo1, S. H. Arvandi1 and T. Barat21Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran 3MD Student, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
Abstract: and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) tumor markers and different clinicopathological parameters of metastatic breast cancer and the site of distant metastasis. A total of 136 patients with metastatic breast cancer were included and the Radiotherapy and Oncology Database were used to determine their clinical and pathological variables along with the level of CEA and CA 15- 3 at the time of diagnosis of distant metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to inestigate association between clinicopathological parameters, distant metastasis, and tumor marker levels. Increased serum levels of CA 15-3 and CEA at initial diagnosis of metastasis were seen in 59.5% and 44.9% of cases, respectively. Elevation of CA 15-3 and CEA did not correlate with grade, hormonal receptor and HER2 status but increased level of CA 15-3 was associated with tumor nodal status in multivariate analysis, with higher level of CA15-3 associated with more nodal involvement (P<0.001). CEA serum level had a significant correlation with breast cancer’s pathological subtypes, with elevated CEA serum level seen more commonly in invasive ductal carcinoma (P= 0.01). Comparing the site of metastasis, the incidence of elevated CA 15-3 and CEA levels were most commonly seen in bone and liver solitary metastasis respectively, however, these differences were not statically significant. In metastatic breast cancer, elevated CA15-3 level was found in majority of cases, while increase in CEA level was seen in less than half of the population. Higher CA 15-3 level represented more frequent nodal involvement. Invasive ductal carcinoma demonstrated elevated CEA level more frequently compared with invasive lobular carcinoma. Tumor marker elevation did not differ regarding the first site(s) of metastasis.
Keywords: Metastatic breast cancer; CA 15-3; CEA; Site of metastasis Back to TOC