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Comparison of breast cancer mucin (BCM) and CA 15-3 in human breast cancer

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Summary

The Breast Cancer Mucin (BCM) enzyme immunoassay utilizes two monoclonal antibodies (Mab), M85/34 and F36/22, for the identification of a mucin-like glycoprotein in serum of breast cancer patients. We have compared BCM with CA 15-3, another member of the human mammary epithelial antigen family.

Serum BCM was evaluated in 151 and CA 15-3 in 134 patients with breast cancer, in 30 normal controls, in 9 pregnant women, and in 13 cancer patients (non-breast). Neither the normal controls nor the pregnant women had BCM levels > 25 U/ml. In contrast, 87 of 115 patients (75%) with metastatic breast cancer had BCM levels > 25 U/ml. All control persons had CA 15-3 levels < 25 U/ml, but 2 out of 9 pregnant women (22%) had levels > 25 U/ml. Seventy-four out of 97 patients (76%) with metastatic breast cancer had CA 15-3 levels > 25 U/ml.

A statistically significant correlation was found between BCM and CA 15-3 in the breast cancer patient group (r = 0.883, p < 0.001, n = 134) and in the normal control group (r = 0.743, p < 0.001, n = 30). BCM and CA 15.3 both showed no correlation with CEA in breast cancer patients (r = 0.060, n = 81; and r = 0.146, n = 78, respectively). BCM had a range of sensitivity similar to that of the CA 15-3 RIA.

Our results suggest that BCM may be a useful new marker for monitoring the clinical course of patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, in the evaluation of breast cancer patients, marker pands depending on disease stage may be a better choice than any single parameter in the evaluation of breast cancer patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Diakonessen Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands

    E. van der Wall & J. W. R. Nortier

  2. Department of Medical Oncology Unit, Academic Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands

    J. H. Schornagel

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Academic Hospital Utrecht, HP G02.625, P.O. Box 85500, NL-3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    M. B. Garcia, M. A. Blankenstein & J. H. H. Thijssen

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  1. M. B. Garcia
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  2. M. A. Blankenstein
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  3. E. van der Wall
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  4. J. W. R. Nortier
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  5. J. H. Schornagel
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  6. J. H. H. Thijssen
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Garcia, M.B., Blankenstein, M.A., van der Wall, E. et al. Comparison of breast cancer mucin (BCM) and CA 15-3 in human breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Tr 17, 69–76 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01806286

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