Are CA 15-3, CEA and CA 125 Predictors for Lymphatic and Vascular Spread In Breast Cancer?

Purpose: Tumor markers can be used to predict the prognostic factors in patients with breast cancer and, in this study, correlation between CA 15-3, CEA, and CA 125 and the prognostic factors in breast cancer is evaluated. Material and Methods: Patients treated for breast cancer between 2002 2004 were prospectively included in the study. Serum levels of CA 15-3, CEA, and CA 125 were evaluated in patient groups formed according to various clinical and histopathologic prognostic factors. Results: 233 patients with breast cancer were included in the study. Higher serum levels of CA 15-3 and CEA were detected in patients with larger tumors (p=0.01 for CA 15-3; p=0.005 for CEA) and serum CA 15-3 and CA 125 levels increased in patients with axillary involvement (p=0.033 for CA 15-3; p=0.036 for CA 125). Besides, serum CA 125 levels increased in patients with extracapsular tumor extension in axillary lymph nodes (p=0.007) and with vascular and lymphatic invasion by tumor cells (p=0.015). Conclusion: This study has shown that CA 15-3, CEA, and CA 125 could be helpful in predicting well-known prognostic factors such as axillary metastases and tumor size as well as extracapsular tumor extension and lymphovascular invasion in breast cancer.