Abstract
The aims of the present investigation were to evaluate the association between serum CA15.3 levels and other biological and clinical variables and its prognostic role in patients with node-negative breast cancer. We evaluated 362 patients operated upon primary breast cancer from 1982 to 1992 (median follow-up 69 months). Serum CA15.3 was measured by an immunoradiometric assay. The association between variables was investigated by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the prognostic role of CA15.3 on relapse-free survival (RFS) was investigated by Cox regression models adjusting for age, oestrogen receptor (ER), tumour stage, and ERxage interaction, with both the likelihood ratio test and Harrell's c statistic. The prognostic contribution of CA 15.3 was highly significant. Log relative hazard of relapse was constant until approximately 10 (U/ml) of CA15.3 and increased thereafter with increasing marker levels. CA15.3 showed a significant contribution using as a cut-off point a value of 31 U/ml. However, the contribution to the model of the marker as a continuous variable is much greater. From these findings, we can conclude that: (i) CA15.3 is a prognostic marker in node-negative breast cancer; (ii) its relationship with prognosis is continuous, with the risk of relapse increasing progressively from approximately 10 U/ml.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1181-1188 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | European Journal of Cancer |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2002 |
Keywords
- Breast cancer
- CA15.3
- MUC1
- Node-negative
- Prognosis
- Regression splines
- Serum markers
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cancer Research
- Hematology
- Oncology