ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of CA15-3, CA-125 and CEA in postoperative breast cancer patients and clinicopathological parameters and pathogenetic condition turnover. Methods From January 2004 to December 2007, 219 breast disease cases with integrity clinical information, admitted to general surgery and oncology department of Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, were collected. The serum concentrations of CA15-3, CA-125 and CEA were determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay(CLIA). Wilcoxon Kruskal Wallis analysis, crosstable analysis and spearman correlation analysis were used to investigate the association between the serum concentration and clinical parameters and pathogenetic condition turnover. Results The serum concentrations of CA15-3,CA-125 and CEA in metastatic breast cancer group were significantly higher than those in nonmetastatic group(P=0.000). The sensitivity of the 3 tumor markers in combination was 64.1% in metastatic breast cancer diagnosis. CA15-3 and CA-125 at the time of initial metastasis were correlated with estrogen receptor state(PCA15-3=0.039, PCA-125=0.049). The level of 3 tumor markers in multiorgan metastatic group were significantly higher than those in single organ metastastic patients(P=0.000). There were significant differences between the levels of CA15-3 and CEA in distant metastatic group and those in local metastatic group (PCA15-3=0.001,PCEA=0.022). Conclusion The high serum concentrations of CA15-3,CEA and CA-125 were useful in monitoring the metastasis. The high serum levels of CA15-3 and/or CA-125 may indicate that the patients will be more sensitive to endocrine therapy.