value of Ca 15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen in diagnosis of breast cancer

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical value of preoperative serum tumor markers CA 15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] in diagnosis of breast cancer. These tumor markers were measured preoperatively in fifty patients. The results of both tumor markers were compared. The CA 15-3 level was above normal [22 U/ml] in 56.5% of the patients with breast cancer. The CEA level was elevated in 10.9% of patients with breast cancer [more than 2 ng/ml]. The CA 15-3 was shown to be significantly positive in premenopausal status reaching 56.3% of premenopausal cases while CEA was insignificant. Both tumor markers were insignificant in postmenopausal status and in relation to tumor T stage and tumor N state. These results indicated that CA 15-3 antigen is significantly a more sensitive marker than CEA for the evaluation of patients with breast cancer