原发性乳腺癌患者术前血清中糖类抗原153癌胚抗原和组织多肽特异性抗原水平与临床病理特征和预后的关系

目的 探讨原发性乳腺癌患者术前血清中糖类抗原153( CA153)、癌胚抗原(CEA)和组织多肽特异性抗原(TPS)水平与患者临床病理特征和预后的关系.方法 对386例Ⅰ～Ⅳ期原发性乳腺癌患者的临床资料进行严格随访,回顾性分析患者术前血清中CA153、CEA和TPS水平与乳腺癌临床病理特征和预后的关系.结果 分别有383、382和324例患者进行了术前CA153、CEA和TPS的检测,平均表达水平分别为(21.46±34.88)U/ml、(1.53±7.95)μg/L和(224.87±436.19) AU/ml,CA153、CEA和TPS的阳性表达率分别为10.7％ (41/383)、7.6％ (29/382)和63.9％ (207/324).原发性乳腺癌患者术前血清CA153的表达水平与患者的年龄和肿瘤大小显著相关(均P＜0.05),CEA的表达水平与肿瘤大小显著相关(P＜0.05),TPS的表达水平与肿瘤大小和淋巴结转移状况显著相关(均P＜0.05).术前血清CA153、CEA和TPS阳性表达患者的总生存率显著低于阴性患者(均P＜0.05).Cox多因素分析表明,ER的表达水平以及术前CA153的表达水平是影响乳腺癌患者预后的独立因素(均P＜0.05),其中术前CA153水平增高是危险因素,而ER阳性表达则是保护因素.结论 术前血清CA153、CEA和TPS的表达水平与乳腺癌患者的临床病理特征和预后有关,CA153是影响乳腺癌患者预后的独立因素,CA153表达水平增高者的预后较差.     

乳腺癌肿瘤标志物CEA、CA15-3表达水平的临床意义

目的:探讨血清CEA、CA15-3与乳腺癌临床诊断方面的关系.方法:应用微粒子免疫萤光技术对210例乳腺癌患者、75例乳腺良性疾病患者及50例正常对照者血清CEA CA15-3表达水平进行检测比较.结果:CEA、CA15-3在乳腺癌Ⅲ、Ⅳ期中表达明显增高(P＜0.005),在Ⅰ、Ⅱ期中表达与正常组及良性疾病组比较无显著性差异(P＞0.05).两种标志物与肿瘤分期、淋巴结受累程度有关,腋淋巴结转移≥4枚或远处脏器转移时CEA、CA15-3浓度明显增高(P＜0.005).两种标志物与肿瘤病理学分型的关系不明显(P＞0.05).乳腺癌术后动态监测CEA、CA15-3对肿瘤远处转移呈高表达(P＜0.005),对局部复发CEA无显著性(P＞0.05),而CA15-3有指导意义(P＜0.005).结论:CEA、CA15-3并非乳腺癌早期诊断的理想标志物,但其与肿瘤临床分期、淋巴结转移程度、远处转移关系密切,是乳腺癌术前预测转移及监测术后复发转移与评估乳癌预后的有效指标.     

全身骨显像联合CA15-3和CEA检测对乳腺癌骨转移的诊断价值

目的 全身骨显像诊断骨转移特异性低,而肿瘤标志物测定有助于筛选临床有高风险骨转移的患者,联合两者有助于早期诊断骨转移瘤.本研究主要探讨全身骨显像联合糖类抗原15-3(carbohydrate antigen 15-3,CA15-3)和癌胚抗原(carcinoembryonic antigen,CEA)检测在乳腺癌骨转移中的诊断价值.方法 选取广西医科大学附属肿瘤医院2013-09-01-2015-07-31收治经病理确诊的90例乳腺癌患者为研究对象,回顾性分析其全身骨显像及CA15-3和CEA检测结果.参照Soloway分级标准,分析CA15-3和CEA与骨显像结果的关系;以穿刺病理及相关影像学表现为临床诊断骨转移金标准,分析并比较单项及联合检测对骨转移的诊断效能.结果 90例乳腺癌患者平均年龄(48.30士10.31)岁.病理类型分别为漫润性导管癌82例,乳腺导管内癌5例,浸润性小叶癌2例,黏液癌1例.骨转移总体发生率为62.22 ％(56/90),骨转移组血清CA15-3和CEA水平较非骨转移组高,均P＜0.001;按Soloway分级标准,M1占21.42％(12/56),M2占35.72％(20/56),M3占42.85％(24/56).全身骨显像分级与CA15-3和CEA水平之间存在强相关性,r值分别为0.794和0.757,均P＜0.001;随着级别升高,血清CA15-3和CEA水平也升高,各级之间差异有统计学意义,均P＜0.001.全身骨显像诊断乳腺癌骨转移的灵敏度、特异性和准确性分别为89.26％(50/56)、76.47％(26/34)和85.56％(77/90);CA15-3诊断骨转移的灵敏度、特异性和准确性分别为73.21％(41/56)、85.29％(29/34)和76.67％(69/90);CEA诊断骨转移的灵敏度、特异性和准确性分别为57.14％(35/56)、79.41％(27/34)和70.00％(63/90);全身骨显像联合CA15-3和CEA检测诊断骨转移的灵敏度、特异性和准确性分别为96.43％(54/56)、88.24％(30/34)和92.22％(83/90).经ROC曲线分析,联合检查曲线下面积(area under curve,AUC)为0.944,其诊断效能明显高于其他单项检查,均P＜0.05.结论 CA15-3和CEA对监测乳腺癌骨转移有一定的价值,全身骨显像联合CA15-3和CEA检测比各项单独检测更有助于乳腺癌骨转移灶的检出.     

CEA与CA15-3联合检测在乳腺癌诊断中的临床意义

目的:探讨癌胚抗原(carcinoembryo antigen,CEA)与肿瘤相关糖类抗原15-3(carbohydrate antigen15-3,CA15-3)联合检测在乳腺癌诊断中的应用价值。方法:采用电化学发光方法检测116例乳腺癌患者与94例乳腺良性肿瘤患者血清中CEA与CA15-3水平并进行统计学分析。结果:乳腺癌患者血清中CEA与CA15-3水平明显高于乳腺良性肿瘤对照组(P<0.01);二者联合检测诊断敏感性显著提高(P<0.05);治疗后CEA与CA15-3含量与治疗前相比显著无明显变化(P>0.05)。结论:CEA与CA15-3联合检测可提高乳腺癌诊断敏感性,对临床诊断与疗效评价有一定的应用价值。     

TPS、TPA、CEA和CA242联合检测对肺癌的诊断价值

目的探讨血清TPS、TPA、CEA和CA242联合检测对肺癌诊断价值。方法采用ELLSA方法,测定92例肺癌患者和103例健康体检者的血清TPS、TPA、CEA和CA242水平。结果肺癌患者组的血清TPS、TPA、CEA和CA242检测阳性率显著高于正常对照组(P<0.001)。单项敏感性以TPS最高,且准确性达79.8%。结论血清TPS、TPA、CEA和CA242联合检测可提高肺癌患者早期诊断敏感性和特异性。     

C-12型蛋白芯片在乳腺癌诊断中的临床价值

目的 探讨C-12型蛋白芯片10项肿瘤标志物在乳腺癌患者血清中的表达情况,并筛选出临床价值较高的标志物.方法 采用蛋白芯片检测系统测定32例乳腺癌患者、28例良性肿瘤患者和19例健康对照者血清中10项标志物(CA19-9、NSE、CEA、CA242、CA125、CAl5-3、AFP、Ferritin、HCG、HGH)的表达水平,用SPSS12.0软件包进行统计分析.结果 所检测的10项标志物单项对乳腺癌的敏感度依次为Ferritin(12.5%)CA242(6.25%)、HGH(6.25%)CEA(3.13%)、CA19-9、CA15-3CA125(0%)、AFP、NSE、HCG.筛选出CA15-3+CA242+HGH组合为诊断乳腺癌效率较高的组合.Ⅲ期Ferritin明显高于Ⅰ+ⅡA期(P《0.05).而CA15-3检测水平ER阴性患者明显高于阳性患者(P《0.05),CA242检测水平乳腺癌ER、PR阳性患者明显高于阴性患者(P《0.05).结论 Ferritin对于判断乳腺癌临床分期,可提供有价值的线索.CA15-3并非乳腺癌早期诊断有效标志物,但对于选择治疗方法及判断预后方面,仍可以提供帮助.CA15-3+CA242+HGH联合检测乳腺癌不具有足够的诊断价值.     

CEA与CA15-3联合检测在乳腺癌诊断中的临床意义

目的：探讨癌胚抗原（carcinoembryo antigen,CEA）与肿瘤相关糖类抗原15-3（carbohydrate antigen15-3,CA15-3）联合检测在乳腺癌诊断中的应用价值。方法：采用电化学发光方法检测116例乳腺癌患者与94例乳腺良性肿瘤患者血清中CEA与CA15-3水平并进行统计学分析。结果：乳腺癌患者血清中CEA与CA15-3水平明显高于乳腺良性肿瘤对照组（P〈0.01）;二者联合检测诊断敏感性显著提高（P〈0.05）;治疗后CEA与CA15-3含量与治疗前相比显著无明显变化（P〉0.05）。结论：CEA与CA15-3联合检测可提高乳腺癌诊断敏感性,对临床诊断与疗效评价有一定的应用价值。     

术前CEA和CA15-3对乳腺癌的临床应用价值

目的:探讨术前CEA和CA15-3对乳腺癌早期诊断的价值及其与临床病理因素的相关性。方法:回顾性分析2000年-2005年1028例乳腺癌患者的CEA、CA15-3水平以及与临床病理因素的关系。结果:CEA、CA15-3联合检测、CA15-3及CEA单独检测对乳腺癌的早期诊断敏感性均低,分别为20.9%、15.3%、9.5%;CA15-3和CEA联合检测在肝、骨和肺转移的阳性率则分别为86.7%、90.9%、45.5%(P=0.030),CA15-3、CEA单独检测对转移病灶的敏感性无差异(P均>0.05)。CEA、CA15-3单独检测及CEA、CA15-3联合检测的阳性率与乳腺癌的临床分期、T分期、N分期呈正相关性,(P均<0.001)。CEA单独检测的阳性率与年龄>45岁、绝经后、ER阴性、PR阴性、Her2阳性有显著相关性(P均<0.05);除CEA、CA15-3联合检测的阳性率与Her2阳性呈正相关,联合检测及CA15-3单独检测与其他因素无相关性。结论:术前CEA和CA15-3对乳腺癌的早期诊断缺乏敏感性,但可作为预测预后的重要指标。     

乳腺癌相关血清肿瘤标志物的临床研究进展

癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原(CA)15-3、CA125等血清肿瘤标志物异常表达提示肿瘤的发生风险.CA15-3过表达被认为与乳腺癌的疾病进展有关,不同临床分期乳腺癌患者血清CA15-3的阳性检出率对诊断临床分期有显著优势,灵敏度和特异度均较高.但目前认为,某项血清肿瘤标志物单独检测对乳腺癌的阳性检出率较低,对早期筛查及诊断的意义不大,因此,多主张血清肿瘤标志物联合检测以对乳腺肿瘤进行早期筛查和早期诊断.本文对CEA、CA15-3、CA125等已在临床一定范围内得到应用的肿瘤标志物,以及新发现、潜在可能用于指导乳腺癌临床决策及治疗方案的肿瘤生物标志物与乳腺癌诊断、治疗及预后相关的临床研究进行综述.     

血清TPS检测对于肺癌的临床应用价值

目的 :探讨血清组织多肽特异性抗原 (TPS)在肺癌患者血清中的表达水平及其对肺癌的临床应用价值。方法 :采用酶联免疫吸附法 ,测定 72例肺癌患者和 114例健康体检者的血清TPS、NSE和CEA水平。结果 :肺癌患者组的TPS、NSE和CEA的表达水平及检测阳性率均显著高于正常对照组 (P <0 0 0 1)。TPS检测阳性率显著高于NSE和CEA(P <0 0 1) ,TPS、NSE和CEA阳性率和浓度均随着临床分期的进展而升高。TPS在肺癌淋巴结转移最为敏感 ,而骨转移表达水平最高。肺癌患者经有效治疗后血清TPS、NSE和CEA水平均明显下降 ,尤其以TPS下降幅度较为显著。结论 :TPS是检出肺癌非常敏感的标志物 ,尤其是淋巴结转移患者 ,对乳腺癌早期诊断、病情判断和疗效评价等均有重要价值 ,而动态观察其水平的临床价值更为可靠。     

TPS in breast cancer--a comparative study with carcinoembryonic antigen and CA 15-3.

The serum levels of tissue polypeptide antigen were determined using the M3 monoclonal antibody (TPS) and compared with the serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and breast carcinoma antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) in 96 patients with benign breast tumors, in 25 breast cancer patients with no evidence of disease, in 139 preoperative breast cancer patients and in 298 samples of 25 breast cancer patients during therapy monitoring (4-22 samples per patient). The 95th percentile of TPS in 89 apparently healthy females was 51 U/l. The 95th percentile of TPS in patients with benign breast tumors was 55 U/l. The maximum TPS level in breast cancer patients with no evidence of disease was 56 U/l. In preoperative breast cancer the number of patients with TPS levels above the 95th percentile of TPS in benign breast tumors was significantly higher in stage III breast cancer as compared with stage I+II. This was not established for CEA and CA 15-3. During therapy monitoring TPS followed the course of the disease faster than CEA and CA 15-3 in patients with bone metastases, liver metastases, lung metastases and pleural effusion, with one exception. TPS levels could be correlated with progression of disease in patients with normal and steady levels of CEA and/or CA 15-3.     

血清TPS和CA15-3水平变化与乳腺癌的关系及其临床意义

目的：探讨血清组织多肽特异性抗原（TPS）和癌抗原15－3（CA15－3）水平检测对乳腺癌的临床应用价值。方法：采用酶联免疫吸附法，分别在治疗前后测定173例乳腺癌和69例乳腺良性疾病患者血清TPS和CA15－3水平。结果：乳腺癌组患者TSP和CA15－3水平及检测阳性率均明显高于乳腺良性疾病和正常对照组（P＜0．01），CA15－3水平随临床分期的进展明显升高，而TPS即使在临床I期也有高水平的表达，乳腺癌患者经有效治疗后其血清TPS和CA15－3水平均明显降低，尤其是单纯根治术或加用放疗的患者降低幅度更为明显，乳腺癌复发患者血清TPS和CA15－3均明显升高，尤其是TPS升高幅度较为显著，结论：TPS和CA15－3联合检测可明显提高乳腺癌的阳性检出率，对乳腺癌早期诊断，病情判断，疗效评估和复发监测等均有重要价值，而动态监测其水平变化的临床价值更为可靠。     

Serum tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS): a complementary tumor marker to CA 15-3 in the management of breast cancer

The efficacy of CEA and CA15-3 tumor markers in monitoring breast cancer was evaluated in 1365 patients with either benign (n=534) or malignant (n=831) breast diseases. Thirty-nine breast cancer patients were monitored before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Three hundred forty-nine patients were monitored during post-surgical follow-up for either a minimum of 5 years or until time of recurrence. Twenty-one patients with metastases were also monitored during chemotherapy. Elevated CA 15-3 and TPS levels were found in 28.6% and 30.0% of patients. CA 15-3 and TPS sensitivities rose to 71.9% and 66.3% in metastatic patients, respectively. The addition of TPS to CA 15-3 increased the sensitivity up to 44.4% in the overall population, and to 87.6% in patients with metastases. During post-surgical follow-up CA 15-3 was elevated in 65.7% and TPS in 61.3% of patients with recurrence. The combination of TPS and CA 15-3 increased the overall sensitivity by 12.7%. Longitudinal monitoring of metastatic patients undergoing chemotherapy demonstrated that, when positive, both CA 15-3 and TPS paralleled response to treatment. TPS monitoring may provide additional value when used in combination with CA15-3 during post-surgical follow-up of breast cancer patients.     

Evaluation of serum CA15-3 determination with CEA and TPA in the post-operative follow-up of breast cancer patients.

The usefulness of post-operatively serial serum CA15-3 determination with CEA and TPA was evaluated in a group of 285 breast cancer patients. In particular, the CA15-3 sensitivity to 'early' diagnosis and monitoring of the response to treatment of breast cancer relapses, was compared with those of the two other markers in order to define the most suitable association. Moreover, in a group of 169 non relapsed patients with a prolonged follow-up (40 +/- 8 months; mean +/- s.d.) CA15-3 specificity was investigated. During post-operative follow-up in 27 (10%) patients, distant metastases occurred. In most of them, elevated values of one or more tumour markers were the first pathological sign and CA15-3, CEA and TPA sensitivity to 'early' diagnosis of metastases were 46%, 7% and 63% respectively. When each tumour marker was considered in combination, CA15-3-CEA-TPA association showed a higher sensitivity (87%) than both CA15-3-TPA (83%) and the CEA-TPA (70%). Serum CA15-3 increase preceded the certain sign of metastases 2.7 +/- 2.6 months (mean +/- s.d.). Shortly before appearance and during treatment of distant metastases, constant elevation and/or progressive increase in serum CA15-3 values occurred in all evaluated patients except three in whom isolated elevated values were found as well. In 24 (14%) of 169 non relapsed patients with prolonged follow-up (40 +/- 8 months; mean +/- s.d.) high serum CA15-3 values occurred. In 16 of these 24 patients, an isolated elevated value was found, while four (2.3%) or the eight remaining ones with constant elevation and/or progressive increase were falsely suspected of metastases. In this group of non relapsed patients, chronic liver failure, diabetes and/or hepatic steatosis were the reasons more commonly responsible for the CA15-3 increase. In metastatic patients, no organ-specificity was shown either by CA15-3 or by CEA and TPA. In these patients serum TPA values showed the highest sensitivity and paralleled clinical and/or instrumental signs better than the CA15-3 and even more than CEA values. These data indicate that in the post-operative follow-up of breast cancer patients, TPA is the most useful tumour marker and TPA-CA15-3 the most suitable association. Contemporaneous measurement of serum CEA levels only slightly increases sensitivity and positive predictive value of TPA-CA15-3 combination.     

The objective measurement of remission and progression in metastatic breast cancer by use of serum tumour markers. European Group for Serum Tumour Markers in Breast Cancer

An established biochemical index for monitoring therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer was tested prospectively in a multicentre study. The index uses two serum tumour markers--carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) along with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). 67 patients treated by either endocrine or chemotherapy had CA15-3, CEA and ESR measured at diagnosis of metastases and sequentially during therapy. Two markers, CA15-3 and CEA, were measured on a further 16 patients giving a total of 83 patients who were assessable for CA15-3 and CEA. Of the patients with CA15-3, CEA and ESR measured at diagnosis of metastases 84% (56/67) had elevation of 1 or more markers. During therapy the number with elevated marker(s) rose to 96% (64/67). Changes in the markers were in line with and often pre-dated therapeutic outcome as assessed by the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) criteria both for remission and progression. Patients without elevation of markers on diagnosis subsequently showed a rise in the marker(s) at or before documented disease progression by UICC. The 3 women in whom markers were at no time significantly elevated remain in remission. The results using CA15-3 and CEA were similar but 12% less patients were assessable. CA15-3 and CEA (with and without ESR) provide an objective method to guide therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer.     

Comparison of circulating CA15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in patients with breast cancer

An immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) has been used to determine circulating levels of the breast cancer-associated antigen, CA15-3. Of 1,050 normal control subjects, serum from 99 (9.4%) had CA15-3 antigen levels greater than 22 U/mL, while that from 58 (5.5%) and 14 (1.3%) had levels greater than 25 U/mL and 30 U/mL, respectively. In contrast, 115 of 158 patients (73%) with metastatic breast cancer had CA15-3 levels greater than 22 U/mL. Thirteen of 26 patients (50%) with only local metastases, 27 of 34 (79%) of those with only bone metastases, and 20 of 24 (83%) with hepatic metastases had CA15-3 levels greater than 22 U/mL. Furthermore, nine of 31 patients (29%) with primary breast cancer had CA15-3 levels greater than 22 U/mL. CA15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were compared for the same patient population. Significantly more patients with metastatic breast cancer had elevated CA15-3 levels than had elevated CEA levels (P less than .001). Furthermore, the CA15-3 IRMA was more sensitive than the CEA assay in patients with only bone metastases, as well as those with only local metastases. Significantly more patients with primary carcinoma of the breast also had elevated CA15-3 than had elevated CEA levels (P less than .02). CA15-3 levels were greater than 22 U/mL in patients with nonmalignant conditions, including five of 25 patients (20%) with benign breast diseases, and 23 of 52 patients (44%) with benign liver diseases. Furthermore, CA15-3 levels were also greater than 22 U/mL in 24 of 54 patients (44%) with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, 12 of 17 patients (71%) with bronchogenic carcinoma, and 29 of 44 patients (66%) with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Serial CA15-3 levels correlated with clinical disease course. Nineteen of 21 patients (91%) with tumor progression had at least a 25% increase in CA15-3 levels. Conversely, seven of nine patients (78%) with tumor regression had at least a 50% decrease in CA15-3 levels. Among 27 patients with stable disease, 16 (59%) had levels that did not vary by more than +/- 25% of the original CA15-3 levels. These results indicate that the CA15-3 antigen is a sensitive marker for the evaluation and monitoring of patients with breast cancer.     

CEA、CA125、CA15-3在吉西他滨治疗乳腺癌化疗前后的表达及意义

目的 探讨血清肿瘤标志物癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原125(CA125)和糖类抗原15-3(CA15-3)在吉西他滨治疗乳腺癌化疗前后的表达及意义.方法 选取接受吉西他滨药物化疗的70例女性原发性乳腺癌患者,治疗21 d后评价疗效,并用电化学发光免疫分析技术检测患者化疗前后血清中CEA、CA125、CA15-3的浓度并进行比较.结果 患者血清CEA、CA125和CA15-3浓度在吉西他滨化疗后明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(P﹤0.01).且患者血清CEA、CA125和CA15-3浓度与吉西他滨的疗效呈正相关(rs﹥0,P﹤0.05).结论 CEA、CA125、CA15-3对临床诊断乳腺癌的发生发展过程具有重要作用.乳腺癌患者应用吉西他滨化疗可明显降低血清CEA、CA125、CA15-3水平,且3种肿瘤标志物与吉西他滨的化疗疗效具有相关性.     

A profile of serum CA 15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen,alkaline phosphatase,and γ-glutamyl transferase levels in patients with breast cancer

The CA 15-3 and CEA concentrations and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and -γ-glutamyl transferase (Gamma GT) activities of serum from 78 patients with breast cancer have been measured. The patients included 27 with localised breast cancer, 19 who had been treated for breast cancer but were now disease-free, 17 with liver metastases, 8 with bone metastases, and 7 with disseminated breast cancer but with neither metastases to the liver or bone. As an indicator of localised breast cancer the predictive value of an increase in CA 15-3 concentration was 93%. As an indicator of metastatic breast cancer the predictive value of an increased CA 15-3 was 62%, whereas the predictive values of an increase in both CA 15-3 and CEA and an increase in CA 15-3, CEA, and ALP 88% and 100%, respectively. A normal CA 15-3 excluded metastatic breast cancer and a normal γ-GT excluded liver metastases. The four tests together provide a set of markers for use in the follow-up of patients with breast cancer. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Clinical Evaluation of an Immunoradiometric Assay for CA15-3 Antigen Associated With Human Mammary Carcinomas: Comparison With Carcinoembryonic Antigen

Serum levels of CA15-3, a mammary tumor associated antigen recognizedby two different murine monoclonal antibodies (115D8 and DF3),were investigated in patients with mammary carcinoma and otherbenign or malignant diseases. The reference value of the serumCA15-3 level was obtained as 24 units/ml at the 99% confidencelimit among healthy individuals (n = 462). Elevation of serumCA15-3 levels was observed in 24.3% of overall patients withmammary carcinoma. Serum CA15-3 levels in breast cancer patientscorrelated with the clinical stage; higher percentages of positivitywere observed in those with advanced breast cancer (stage IV,64.7%, recurrent, 52.4% and metastatic, 70.3%). Furthermore,elevated serum CA15-3 levels in breast cancer patients respondedwell to the effect of therapy. Although the serum CA15-3 testgave percentages of positivity of breast cancer similar to thosefound by the serum CEA test, the serum CA15-3 test revealedlower percentages of posi-tivity than the serum CEA test amongpatients with benign breast lesions, liver cirrhosis or othercarcinomas. These results suggest that the serum CA15-3 antigenlevel provides a very useful marker for diagnosis and clinicalmonitoring of patients with breast cancer.