I have long questioned why mammograms are often accepted to be the test of choice to diagnose breast cancer, rather than the much less invasive tumor markers, Cancer Antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3), and/or Cancer Antigen 27-29 (
CA 27-29).
The applications of CA 15-3, CA 19-9, CA 27-29, CEA, the estrogen receptors, and HER2/neu are the focus of our continuing discussion of tumor markers and how assays have been used clinically to aid practicing physicians.
The CA 15-3, CA 27-29, and CEA serum markers, together with HER2/neu, are often used as markers for breast cancer.