Diagnostic impact of CEA and CA 15-3 on monitoring chemotherapy of breast cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: Serum tumor markers has been evolved as an effective tool to determine prognosis and treatment efficiency in different types of cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the chemotherapy monitoring efficiency and prognostic sensitivity of tumor associated cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) markers in early (II) and late (IV) clinical stages of breast cancer patients.   Methods: CA 15-3 and CEA serum levels were assessed in 56 breast cancer patients at early II (n = 26) and late IV (n = 30) clinical stages with primary inclusion criteria: who received adjuvant chemotherapy AC (Adriamycin & Cyclophosphamide) or AC-T (Adriamycin & Cyclophosphamide followed by Taxane) regimes and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative by using particle enhanced turbid metric assay.   Results: Higher elevation of CA 15-3 as compared to CEA in pre-treatment group of breast cancer patients as compared to healthy control was observed. Late-stage patients showed higher positive serum levels as compared to early-stage one for both markers with preference of CA 15-3 over CEA. AC-T chemotherapy regime treatment in both clinical stages revealed significantly higher level of both markers as compared to AC regime with preference of CA 15-3 over CEA at late stage. Both markers levels were significantly higher in late-stage group as compared with early-stage ones for both chemotherapy regimens.   Conclusion: CA 15-3 is more efficient as prognostic monitoring marker in comparison with CEA and revels a positive connection between chemotherapy regime system and staging, more observed in late-stage.