Human tissue polypeptide antigen in breast cancer.

Serum tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were simultaneously measured in 108 patients with breast cancer, in 40 healthy women, and in 26 women with benign breast disease. TPA levels were elevated (0.09 microgram/ml or higher) in 53% of 19 patients with primary breast cancer, and CEA levels were elevated (2.5 ng/ml) in 21%. Among 67 patients with metastatic breast cancer, TPA and CEA levels were increased in 70% and 61%, respectively. TPA was positive in 13% and CEA in 8% of the healthy women. CEA levels were not elevated in patients with benign breast disease, but levels of TPA were elevated in 27% of those studied. Elevation of TPA levels was more frequent in patients with visceral metastasis having higher values of the test results. Among 22 women with breast cancer who had no apparent cancer recurrence, TPA levels were elevated in 12 and CEA levels in 6. In another group of 39 patients with metastatic breast cancer who received palliative therapy, a limited correlation was noted between the clinical course of the disease and changes in TPA and CEA values measured in linear fashion. Thus TPA appeared to be equal to CEA as a tumor marker in most areas analyzed.