Correlation between CEA Serum Levels and Estrogen Receptors in Breast Cancer

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the correlation between carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) serum levels and estrogen receptors in breast cancer. The biochemical parameters have been introduced in the study of breast cancer patients of which estrogen receptor (ER) determinations and plasmatic CEA measurements are possibly the most widely used. The former gives information about the possible hormonoresponsiveness of the tumor may have prognostic implications and may also correlate with tumor differentiation. The latter is useful because it is relation with tumoral stage (nodal involvement, presence of distant metastases) as well as its role in the follow up of patients with disseminated disease (M 1 ). The combined analysis of ER and CEA shows a close relationship between these parameters in both local and disseminated cases.