CORRELATION OF SERUM HER2-NEU, CA15-3 AND CEA IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS AND TNM STAGING

This study aimed to explore the correlation of serum level of HER2-neu, CA
15-3, and CEA with TNM staging for breast cancer
Material & Methods: In this study serum samples of 50 patients with breast cancer were assessed with
ELISA method for level of HER2-neu, CA15-3 and CEA preoperatively. After operation
histopathologic specimens stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin were evaluated for tumor size,
histopathologic subtype, grade and lymph node involvement. Tumor stage was determined according
to bone scan, radiologic findings, bone marrow biopsy, and serum alkaline phosphatase. Then the
correlation of tumor stage and serum level of markers was analyzed.
Results: Serum HER2-neu in 16% (8 cases), CA15-3 in 78% (39 cases) and CEA in 66% (33cases)
were detected. Serum level of HER2-neu, CA15-3 and CEA was correlated with the clinical stage of
the tumor (p<0,001). There was a correlation between serum level of tumor markers and lymph node
involvement (p<0.001 for CA15-3 and CEA and P=0.007 for HER2-neu). Serum level of CA15-3 and
CEA were correlated with tumor size (p<0.001 and p=0.004 respectively) but there was no correlation
with HER2_neu (p<0.15). There was a correlation between histologic grade and tumor markers level
(p<0.001). There was no correlation between serum markers and histologic subtype (p=0.397, p=0.118
and p=0.154 for HER2-neu, CA15-3 and CEA respectively).
Conclusion: Serum levels of HER2-neu, CA15-3 and CEA can be used as preoperative predictive
factors for tumor stage