Carcino-embryonic antigens, oestrogen receptors and androgen receptors in human breast tumours. Clinical evaluation of carcino-embryonic antigen, IV.

This paper, the fourth in a series devoted to the study of the clinical usefulness of estimations of carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA), describes CEA levels in extracts of metastatic breast tumours. --Two groups can be distinguished, with CEA values higher or lower than 1.5 microgram CEA per g protein. The group of tumours with a CEA level exceeding 1.5 microgram/g (CEA-positive) included a significantly larger percentage or oestrogen receptor-positive tumours than the group with lower CEA levels (CEA-negative). --It is stated that CEA-negative metastases are most likely to be found in patients who fail to respond to hormonal therapy. --No relation was demonstrable between the presence of androgen receptors and the CEA level. All the possible permutations of CEA, oestrogen receptors and androgen receptors were encountered in the tumours examined.