CA 15 - 3

CA 15-3 assay values are frequently elevated in patients with breast cancer. These studies have suggested that the CA 15-3 assay may be of clinical value for monitoring the response of patients undergoing therapy because increasing and decreasing values correlated with disease progression and regression, respectively. Additional published studies have suggested that increasing CA 15-3 assay values in patients at risk for breast cancer recurrence after primary therapy may be indicative of recurrent disease before it can be detected clinically. Elevations of CA 15-3 assay values have been reported in individuals with nonmalignant conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, autoimmune disorders, and benign diseases of the ovary and breast. Non-mammary malignancies in which elevated CA 15-3 assay values have been reported include lung, colon, pancreatic, primary liver, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial. CA 15-3 assay values are not elevated in most normal individuals.