Relationship between hormone receptor rate, CEA, CA 15-3 and MIB-1 in patients with breast cancer recurrence

Background: Several tumor markers and risk factors have been investigated in patient with breast cancer (BC) for predicting recurrence and monitoring patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) rate, serum tumor markers CEA and CA 15-3, MIB-1 proliferation index, and risk of BC relapse. Patients and Methods: Data regarding a series of 363 consecutive women with pT1-2 BC who underwent curative surgery and were followed-up for 24-120 months were reviewed. The following parameters were recorded: age (years), greatest diameter of the tumor (size, mm), ER and PgR rate, MIB-1 index (%), CEA (ng/mL) and CA 15-3 (U/L) serum levels. Two Groups of patients were considered: (1) Group A cases (N=62, 17.1%, median age 55 years, range 35-83 years) with local or distant relapse, and (2) Group B controls (N=301, 82.9%, median age 61 years, range 28-88 years) without relapse. Results: In univariate analysis CEA, CA 15-3, MIB-1 index, and PgR values did not differ (p=NS) between Groups, whilst ER rate (65.7±12.2 vs. 58.8±17.1; p=0.003) and size (24.3±7.1 vs. 20.7±10.2 mm; p=0.009) were significantly different. Overall, a linear relationship between CEA and CA 15-3 (Group A: R=0.43, p=0.001; Group B: R=0.21, p=0.003), and between ER and PgR (Group A: R=0.38, p=0.002; Group B: R=0.54, p=<0.001) was found. In Group A patients there was a significant correlation between age and both CEA (R=-047, p=0.0003) and CA 15-3 (R=-0.46, p=0.0007), and between MIB-1 index and size (R=0.43, p=0.0005), age (R=0.36, p= 0.004) and CEA (R=-0.36, p=0.004). In Group B patients there was a week correlation between size and both age (R=0.18, p=0.001) and PgR (R=0.20, p=0.0004). Conclusions: Preoperative serum tumor markers CEA and CA 15-3, ER and PgR rate, and MIB-1 index are not useful in predicting the clinical outcome of patients with BC who underwent surgery.