Tumor markers in breast cancer - European Group on Tumor Markers recommendations

Recommendations are presented for the routine clinical use of serum
and tissue-based markers in the diagnosis and management of
patients with breast cancer. Their low sensitivity and specificity
preclude the use of serum markers such as the MUC-1 mucin
glycoproteins ( CA 15.3, BR 27.29) and carcinoembryonic antigen in
the diagnosis of early breast cancer. However, serial measurement
of these markers can result in the early detection of recurrent
disease as well as indicate the efficacy of therapy. Of the
tissue-based markers, measurement of estrogen and progesterone
receptors is mandatory in the selection of patients for treatment
with hormone therapy, while HER-2 is essential in selecting
patients with advanced breast cancer for treatment with Herceptin (
trastuzumab). Urokinase plasminogen activator and plasminogen
activator inhibitor 1 are recently validated prognostic markers for
lymph node-negative breast cancer patients and thus may be of value
in selecting node-negative patients that do not require adjuvant
chemotherapy. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.