Evaluation of preoperative predictive values of serum CA15-3 and CEA within Sudanese women with breast cancer

Abstract EN

Objectives: Early detection of cancer comprises early diagnosis in symptomatic and screening of asymptomatic individuals.

Our aim was to evaluate the significant values of carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) and / or Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in women with breast cancer. Design and setting: This case control study was conducted in Khartoum Teaching Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. Application of such measurement may be helpful within screening and early detection efforts in such a country like Sudan with poor resources. Methods : we examined by serological radioimmuno-assay methods, significant elevation of CA15-3 and CEA serum samples obtained from 100 women of whom 40% and 35 % were patients with histopathologically confirmed breast cancer and benign breast lumps respectively and the remaining 25 % were apparently healthy controls. Statistical analysis : data were analyzed by using a computer SPSS program. Results: Among the 75 patients with breast lumps, 33 (44 %) and 31(37.3 %) showed high CA15-3 and CEA levels respectively.

Of the 40 carcinomas, high expressions of CA15-3 and CEA were found among 28 (70 %) and 24 (60 %) respectively.

Notably, only 2 (8 %) of the controls showed lightly elevated CEA. Conclusions : the obtained Specificity of 85.7 %, 80 % and sensitivity of 70 %, 60 % for CA15-3 and CEA correspondingly, support the combined application of both markers in screening for breast cancer.