Prognostic value in predicting overall survival of two mucinous markers: CA 15-3 and CA 125 in breast cancer patients at first relapse of disease

Abstract The role of circulating tumour markers in providing prognostic information has been scarcely studied. We evaluated the prognostic significance of two mucinous markers: CA 15-3 and CA 125 in 115 breast cancer patients at first recurrence of disease. At diagnosis of advanced disease bone involvement was found in 64 patients, lung in 57, skin lymph nodes in 21, liver in 20, and brain in 5. Patients were recruited and treated in the same institution with conventional chemo- or endocrine therapy. The follow-up ranged from 3 to 54+ months (median 35). Serum samples were drawn at first recurrence of disease before the start of any endocrine and/or chemotherapy. Patients with CA 15-3 CA 15-3 >30 U/ml (median 50+ versus 26 months, P CA 125 CA 125 >35 U/ml (median 34.5 versus 18.5 months, P