Two Markers May Aid in Breast Cancer Detection
NEW YORK--Early detection of breast cancer may be improved when CA 15-3 and tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS) are used in conjunction with mammography and palpation, Vivian Barak, PhD, of Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, said at the 12th Annual International Conference on Human Tumor Markers.
NEW YORK--Early detection of breast cancer may be improved whenCA 15-3 and tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS) are usedin conjunction with mammography and palpation, Vivian Barak, PhD,of Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, said at the12th Annual International Conference on Human Tumor Markers.
CA 15-3 is already used routinely in Israel for breast cancerfollow-up, treatment efficacy, and early detection of recurrence,she said. Her study sought to determine whether CA 15-3 and TPSare sufficiently sensitive and specific to justify their costas tools for early detection in patients at high risk for breastcancer.
Among 182 patients, the study found a good correlation betweenthe findings of mammography and levels of CA 15-3 and TPS. Thesetwo markers were found to be more sensitive than mucin-like cancerantigen (MCA) and CA 549.
Although CA 15-3 and TPS can improve screening sensitivity whenadded to mammography and palpation, they are currently used inIsrael only in high-risk patients, and their wider usefulnessfor screening is not yet clear, she said.
