Relationship Between CA 15-3 And CEA And Clincopathological Features And Prognosis Factors In Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigation the association between cancer antigen 15-3(CA 15-3) and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA) serum levels and clincopathological features and prognosis factors in patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer(MBC).Methods: We retrospectively the medical records of 284 patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who fulfilled the specified criteria was performed from January 2007 to December 2012. The association of both tumor markers levels and clinicopathological features and prognosis factors were analyzed in this study.Results: Of the 284 patients, elevated CA 15-3 and CEA levels at initial diagnosis of recurrence were identified in 163(57.4%) and 97(34.2%) patients, respectively. Elevated CA 15-3 and CEA levels were significantly associated with breast cancer molecular subtype(p<0.001 and p=0.032, respectively). Luminal subtypes had a higher percentage of elevated CA 15-3 and CEA levels than non-luminal subtypes. Elevated CA 15-3 level was correlated with bone metastasis(p=0.017). However, elevation CEA was seen regardless of specific site of metastasis. Elevation of CA 15-3 was much more common in MBC with multiple metastatic sites, when compared to MBC with single metastasis(p=0.001). Nevertheless, the incidence of elevated CEA levels did not differ between patients with single metastatic site and those with multiple metastatic sites. Stratified analysis showed that Luminal A breast cancer( P = 0.001) and Luminal B breast cancer patients(P=0.024) with elevated serum tumor marker levels had relatively poor prognosis.Conclusion: Elevated CA 15-3 and CEA levels at initial diagnosis of recurrence were associated with breast cancer molecular subtype. Elevation CA 15-3 was correlated with bone metastasis. Elevated of CEA level was seen regardless of site of metastasis. The proportion with elevated CA 15-3 level differed based on number of metastatic sites. Luminal A and Luminal B breast cancer patients with elevated serum tumor marker levels had relatively poor prognosis.