The potential limitations of our study are, one tumor marker was studied as
CA 15-3 can also be used for detecting breast cancer alongwith CEA and sensitivity is even more with their combined assessment as evaluated in various international studies5,10.
Also considering her medical history as well as that of her family, the doctors also recommended that Arroyo undergo a Positron Emission Tornography (PET) scan; Tumor Markers-Alpha Feto Protein for liver cancer; CEA
CA 15-3 for breast cancer; 19-9 for the pancreas; and CA 125 Calcitronin for medullary thyroid cancer.
The sensitivity of
CA 15-3 and CA 12-5 kits is 5 U/ml and that of f-PSA kit is .
CA 15-3 is a good indicator of treatment response and disease course in breast cancer patients whose tumors produce that antigen.
Preoperative
CA 15-3 and CEA serum levels as predictor for breast cancer outcomes.
11 for AFP, [beta]-hCG, CA 125,
CA 15-3, CA 19-9 and CEA to determine whether the clinical information provided with the request corresponded to the BPAC guidelines of appropriate use.
Tumor Marker Control is intended for use as an assayed control serum to monitor the precision of laboratory-testing procedures for the analysis of AFP,
CA 15-3, CA 19-9, CA 125, CEA, Ferritin, HE4, PSA, and Free PSA.
It seems to me that a simple blood test like the
CA 15-3 or CA 27-29 would be a much better screening option for the women affected.
Serum tumor markers such as
CA 15-3, carcinoembyonic antigen (CEA), and CA 27-29 are ordered in the clinic mainly for disease surveillance, and not useful for detection of localized cancer.
Of these, the most widely used are
CA 15-3 and CEA (for review see [3,4]).
Tumor markers, such as [alpha]-fetoprotein (AFP) [1], carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), and
CA 15-3, can be found in the body (usually blood or urine) when cancer is present (1).
With the exception of CA 195 and
CA 15-3 (75% specificity), all the markers had diagnostic specificities equal to or greater than 80% (range 80-95%).
