Biologic markers in breast carcinoma. IV. Serum fucose-protein ratio. Comparisons with carcinoembryonic antigen and human chorionic gonadotrophin.

Serum fucose-protein ratio was evaluated as a potential biologic marker for patients with metastatic breast cancer. By analysis of the same blood samples, comparisons were made with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). For 150 patients with metastatic breast cancer, 85% had a value for serum-fucose protein ratio above the normal range in comparison to 75% for CEA and 40% for hCG. Serum fucose-protein ratio was exclusively increased in 12% of the patients, CEA in 4% and hCG in 2%. Both serum-fucose protein ratio and CEA were elevated in 39% of the patients, and together, either in combination of alone, were increased in 93% of the patients. Raised values for serum fucose-protein ratio as well as for CEA decreased with change in disease status from pretreatment to response for patients with measurable disease parameters and increased correspondingly with overt disease progression. Preliminary data indicate both serum fuxose-protein ratio and CEA frequently become elevated when patients progress from a disease free interval after surgery to recurrence.