Screening for metastases in breast cancer: an assessment of biochemical and physical methods

Ten tumor markers were measured in serum or urine at approximately three month intervals in patients with breast cancer following mastectomy but before development of overt metastatic disease. In 23 patients who later had metastases, only three markers, alkaline phosphatase, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) were consistently abnormal prior to the development of detectable metastases in more than one patient. In half the patients, a "lead interval" of three months or more was obtained using these three markers and little advantage was obtained by the addition of any other biochemical marker. The value of these three measurements was then assessed in a larger group of patients and compared with other tests for metastases. Alkaline phosphatase, CEA, gamma-GT, clinical examination, and chest x-ray were the best indices of the metastatic state in breast cancer, being collectively abnormal in 98% of patients at first presentation with metastases. The authors recommend screening patients postoperatively with these five tests for metastases; more detailed tests should only be carried out if results of one or more these are abnormal.