Breast cancer and clinical utility of CA 15-3 and CEA.

This manuscript summarizes the experiences with CA 15-3 and CEA obtained in 8,000 breast cancer patients. These markers were usually in normal range (CEA < 6 micrograms/L, CA 15-3 < 40 U/L) before surgery and increased only before the development of distant metastases. 80% of all patients with metastases had elevated marker levels several months before or at the time of detection of metastases. Therefore CA 15-3 and CEA determinations should be used as an easy method for screening of metastases during follow-up of breast cancer patients.