Serum CA15-3 in Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions

CA15-3 is a high-molecular-mass mucin-like glycoprotein expres¬sed at the luminal surface of most secretary epithelia and associated with mammary tumors (Taylor et al., 2002). Increased levels were observed in patients with breast cancer (Kobayashi et al., 1989). Clinical uses of this marker include monitoring of patients with breast cancer (Duffy, 1999; Duffy et al., 2006), prognosis (McLaughlin et al., 2000), recurrence (Busetto et al., 1995; Molina et al., 1996; Molina et al., 1999) and metastasis (Elston et al., 1999; Thompson et al., 1991). CA15-3 level correlate exclusively with tumor size; higher CA15-3 serum level was found in advanced cancer stages, higher grades and metastasis (Berruti et al., 1994; Gang et al., 1985; Kikuchi et al., 1987; Theriault et al., 1989:2007; Tampellini et al., 1997; Gion et al., 2002). CA15-3 level increased in 10% stage I breast cancer disease, 20% stage II disease, 40% stage III disease, and 75% with stage IV disease (Duffy 2006). Elevated levels of this biomarker were detected among certain benign diseases, primary breast carcinoma (Coveney et al., 1995) and in patients with advanced adenocarcinomas (Anonymous, 1996; Cheung et al., 2000; Nicolini & Carpi; 2000). Aging and menopause disturb the hormonal status