Is there correlation between serum tumour markers CA15·3 and CA27·29 and mammaglobin expression in breast cancer patients?

Aims: Mammaglobin (MGB) is a genetic marker of micrometastatic breast cancer; serum tumour markers are being studied in the evaluation of metastatic disease. We wish to determine if MUC1 levels (detected .using CA 27·29 and CA 15·3) are associated with MGB expression in peripheral venous blood, bone marrow and axillary lymph nodes. Methods: Tumour, axillary lymph nodes, venous blood and bone marrow were collected. RNA was extracted and RT PCR assays were performed for expression of MGB. Serum tumour marker levels were taken every 6 months, measured by immunoassay. Results: Of 77 consecutive patients presenting with breast cancer 15 had elevation of CA 15·3 and CA 27·29·2 of these patients are now dead; the patients with serum tumour markers within normal levels are all living. Of these 15 patients 11 had MGB expression in lymph nodes, blood and/or bone marrow, whereas only 2 patients showed lymph node involvement with conventional histological examination. Only 2 of the 15 patients did not express MGB, this difference was significant. Conclusion: The genetic marker mammaglobin is when expressed in regional lymph nodes, peripheral blood or bone marrow, correlated well with serum tumour markers CA 15·3 and CA 27·29 in breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]