ROLE OF PLASMA CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN IN EVALUATING PATIENTS WITH BREAST-CANCER TREATED WITH ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (8) , 1303-1309
Abstract
Serial plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were determimed in 84 patients with breast cancer who were receiving postsurgical adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy. CEA values were correlated with clinical status, scintiscans, alkaline phosphatase, LDH [lactate dehydrogenase] and SGOT [serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase]. CEA values > 2.5 ng/ml were considered abnormal. Thirty patients had normal serial CEA values; all remain disease-free. In 54 patients one or more abnormal CEA values were recorded; 9 of 54 developed overt metastatic disease. Relapses occurred in four of 38 patients in whom values up to 5 ng/ml were recorded, in 3 of 14 patients in whom values up to 10 ng/ml were recorded, and in 2 of 2 patients in whom values > 10 ng/ml were recorded.