Objective measurement of therapeutic response in breast cancer using tumour markers

In 65 patients with systemic breast cancer, a biochemical response index using three tumour markers in combination, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), allowed objective biochemical assessment of response to endocrine therapy. Changes in these three markers at 2, 4 and 6 months showed a highly significant correlation with UICC assessed response at 6 months. At 4 months, changes in these three markers resulted in a selectivity of 93%, with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 82%. Survival of groups of patients assessed biochemically or by UICC criteria for non-progression or progression showed no significant difference. The advantage of the biochemical assessment are that it is objective and reproducible. The assessment gives similar information to the UICC assessment but can be carried out earlier. Changes in the three markers appears to reflect the dynamics of change in tumour mass in response to systemic therapy in contrast to the UICC criteria which reflect structural change.