A profile of serum CA 15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels in patients with breast cancer.

The CA 15-3 and CEA concentrations and the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (Gamma GT) activities of serum from 78 patients with breast cancer have been measured. The patients included 27 with localised breast cancer, 19 who had been treated for breast cancer but were now disease-free, 17 with liver metastases, 8 with bone metastases, and 7 with disseminated breast cancer but with neither metastases to the liver or bone. As an indicator of localised breast cancer the predictive value of an increase in CA 15-3 concentration was 93%. As an indicator of metastatic breast cancer the predictive value of an increased CA 15-3 was 62%, whereas the predictive values of an increase in both CA 15-3 and CEA and an increase in CA 15-3, CEA, and ALP 88% and 100%, respectively. A normal CA 15-3 excluded metastatic breast cancer and a normal gamma-GT excluded liver metastases. The four tests together provide a set of markers for use in the follow-up of patients with breast cancer.