Role of CA 15-3 in the diagnosis and monitoring of breast cancer

Expert Solution

Before giving your answer I would like to brief you on Breast cancer.

Breast cancer is most common cancer in female in the world.

Diagnosis is made by using TRIPLE ASSESSMENT which includes - a) Clinical examination, b) Mammogram and c) Tissue diagnosis by True cut biopsy/core needle biopsy.

Now coming to CA 15-3,

What is CA 15-3? CA stands for Carcinoma Antigen and its a TUMOR MARKER which gets raised in blood in patient suffering from breast cancer. Normal level is less then 30 U/L.

Its ROLE in not for primary diagnosis of breast cancer but is MORE RELATED TO METASTATIC BREAST CANCER rather than in initial stage of breast cancer.

Now, coming to your answer -

MAIN PURPOSE Is to

1) DETECT TREATMENT RESPONSE IN METASTATIC BREAST CANCER after treatment initiation. Level of CA 15-3 should decrese with treatment.

2) SURVEY FOR RECURRENCE after completion of treatment of metastatic breast cancer i.e.after normal level achieved after completion of treatment if there is rise in CA 15-3 then it is suggestive of disease recurrence

Other than this two things there are also certain other things tobe kept in mind like

a) Higher CA 15-3 level higher is Tumor size or Advance is the disease stage

b) Metastasis of Liver and Bone is the main reason for production of CA 15-3

c) Elevation of CA 15-3 level can also be seen in other malignancy(Lung cancer, Liver cancer etc), benign disease(liver cirrhosis, sarcoidosis) or even healthy individual.

Nightingale answered 2 years ago

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