Serial Plasma Carcinoembryonic Antigen Measurements During Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer

Abdul W. Mughal, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, Herbert A. Fritsche, Aman U. Buzdar, Hwee Y. Yap, George R. Blumenschein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Serial plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were measured in 167 patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with fluorouracil, doxorubicin hydrochloride, and cyclophosphamide (FAC). In 84 patients, the pretreatment CEA value was abnormal. Response rates and remission duration were similar in patients with normal and abnormal pretreatment levels. Carcinoembryonic antigen concentrations decreased in 94% of patients who responded to FAC therapy. The duration of response was 22 months for patients in whom the CEA levels normalized v nine months in those in whom it decreased but never returned to normal. Increasing CEA levels correlated with progressive disease in 87% of patients and preceded clinical evidence of progression in 77%. Serial CEA measurements can monitor response to chemotherapy, provide useful prognostic information of response duration, and detect progressive disease early.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1881-1886
Number of pages6
JournalJAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Volume249
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 8 1983

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Serial Plasma Carcinoembryonic Antigen Measurements During Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this