Serum Tumor Markers in Breast Cancer Prognosis
Author Information
Author(s): Ebeling F G, Stieber P, Untch M, Nagel D, Konecny G E, Schmitt U M, Fateh-Moghadam A, Seidel D
Primary Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany
Hypothesis
The study investigates the association of serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) with disease-free survival and death from disease in breast cancer patients.
Conclusion
The post-operative decrease of the serum tumor marker CEA is a strong independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival and death from disease in breast cancer patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Elevated pre-operative serum marker values were correlated with early relapse and death from disease.
- A decrease of more than 33% of the CEA value from the pre-operative level was associated with early relapse and death from disease.
- The study is the largest to-date analyzing the prognostic value of serum tumor markers in breast cancer.
Takeaway
Doctors can use blood tests to check certain markers that help predict how well breast cancer patients will do after surgery.
Methodology
The study analyzed serum markers CEA and CA 15-3 in 1046 women with breast cancer, relating levels to patient outcomes using univariate and multivariate analyses.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the retrospective nature of the study and exclusion criteria.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and may not account for all variables affecting outcomes.
Participant Demographics
All participants were female breast cancer patients who underwent surgery between 1985 and 1998.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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