Evaluation of Carcinoembryonic Antigen in Human Mammary Carcinoma2

Abstract

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was studied for 2 years In 136 patients with breast carcinoma. CEA was elevated in 57 of 83 (68%) patients with metastases. The rate of positivity varied according to the site of metastases. It ranged from 41% in patients with soft-tissue metastasis, 64% for osseous, 83% for pulmonary, to 93% for hepatic metastasis. Marked elevation of CEA (>25.0 ngjml) was observed most frequently in patients with hepatic metastasis. In 21 patients undergoing mastectomy, serial CEA determinations showed rise of CEA level in 8 of 15 patients without apparent metastasis, and in 4 of 6 patients with demonstrable metastasis during follow-up. In another group of 32 patients having ablative or chemotherapy treatment, CEA dropped in 5 of 13 responders and increased or remained elevated in 10 of 19 nonresponders. Serial CEAdetermination is not an adequate marker for breast tumor regression or progression. An immunologic test based on the antigen isolated from breast tumor is needed to improve the specificity and clinical application in the diagnosis and detection of breast cancer.