Tumor marker CA 15-3 in breast cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation between the serum concentration of the tumor marker CA 15-3 and breast cancer, which has not been proven by the existence of regional and distant metastases, and breast cancer with the presence of regional and distant metastases. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study was a retrospective-prospective study, and was conducted on 100 women aged 40-70 years of age in the period of January 2007 until June 2011, in whom, after surgery, breast cancer was histologically verified, where before the surgery serum tumor marker CA 15-3 levels were established. The serum tumor marker CA 15-3 concentrations are determined in all patients after radiological diagnosis of suspected breast cancer (radiological findings concluded as BI RADS 4 and 5). The study excluded patients with liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and lung cancer. The study group consisted of patients with metastatic breast cancer, and the control group of patients with breast cancer comprised those shown to be without verified metastatic disease. To calculate the correlation, Spearman's correlation coefficient was used. A difference in p values of less than 0.05 (p<0.05) was considered statistically significant. RESULTS The serum tumor marker CA 15-3 was elevated in all patients with proven remote or clubbing metastasis in 35.5% of patients with metastasis spreading to regional lymph nodes. CONCLUSION There is a significant correlation between serum concentrations of the tumor marker CA 15-3 and the presence of metastasis, and serum concentrations of tumor markers and the dissemination of the underlying disease.