Does sensitivity of tumor markers CEA and CA 15-3 significantly correlate with any preoperative parameters in breast cancer patients with recurrnece ?

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the causes of false-negative results using serum tumour markers (TM) CEA and CA 15-3 in treatment options and breast cancer (BC) patients with recurrence. Methods: Sixty-two women (median age 55 years, range 35–83) who underwent curative surgery for BC (pT1pN0=21, pT2pN0=14, pT2pN1=24, pT3pN1=3) developed local recurrences (n=36), distant metastases (n=13) or contralateral BC (n=13) during a mean follow-up of 52 months (range 24–148). Results: TM sensitivity in detection of BC recurrence was 40.3% (CEA) and 41.9% (CA 15–3), with a mean lead time of 5.6±3.1 months (range 3–9). No difference (PNS) was found between the sensitivity of TMin the detection of recurrence and (1) their pre-operative values (Fisher exact test), (2) the site of the recurrence (Chi-squared test), and (3) axillary lymph node (N0/N1) involvement (Chi-squared test) correlates (Student’s t-test) only with the age of the patients (CA 15–3) and the size of the tumor CEA). Conclusions: In BC patients with recurrence the sensitivity of TM during paraffin-embedded specimens follow-up does not correlate with any specific pre-operative parameter.