Skip to main content

Serum and Tissue Markers for Breast Cancer

  • Chapter
Breast Cancer

Part of the book series: M. D. Anderson Cancer Care Series ((MDCCS))

  • 230 Accesses

Abstract

The use of tumor markers for assessing prognosis and treatment response in breast cancer has been investigated in clinical trials. Carcinoembryonic antigen, the MUC-1 gene product, and the HER-2/neu extracellular domain are serum markers that have been found to be useful in assessing response to hormonal therapy and chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Likewise, tissue markers such as Ki-67, the estrogen and progesterone receptors, and HER-2/neu have been found to be useful in assessing prognosis in patients with breast cancer. A variety of other tissue markers, including oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, markers of angiogenesis, and proteins associated with the invasive phenotype, are under investigation for their potential utility in assessing prognosis and treatment response in breast cancer. Similar applications can be envisioned for assays that detect cancer cells in the peripheral circulation and micrometastases in the bone marrow. Tumor markers are also being used to detect micrometastases in bone marrow and cancer cells in circulating blood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Suggested Readings

  • Allred DC, Clark GM, et al. Association of p53 protein expression with tumor cell proliferation rate and clinical outcome in node-negative breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993; 85: 200–206.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allred DC, Harvey JM, Berardo M, Clark GM. Prognostic and predictive factors in breast cancer by immunohistochemical analysis. Mod Pathol 1998; 11: 155–168.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Archer CD, Ashley S, Dowsett M, et al. Biomarkers for the prediction of complete clinical response to primary chemotherapy in early breast cancer. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1998; 17: 484A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Axelsson K, Ljung BE, Moore DH II, et al. Tumor angiogenesis as a prognostic assay for invasive ductal breast carcinoma. J Natl Cancer Inst 1995; 87: 997–1008.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berruti A, Bottini A, Bersiga A, et al. p53 expression and reduction in kinetic cell activity in predicting clinical complete response to primary chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1998; 17: 393A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bianco AR, Laurentiis MD, Carlomagno C, et al. 20 year update of the Naples GUN trial of adjuvant breast cancer therapy: evidence of interaction between c-erbB-2 expression and tamoxifen efficacy. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1998; 17: 373A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonadonna G, Valagussa P, Moliterni A, Zambetti M, Brambilla C. Adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil in node-positive breast cancer: the results of 20 years of follow-up. N Engl J Med 1995; 332: 901–906.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borresen AL, Andersen TI, Eyfjord JE, et al. TP53 mutations and breast cancer prognosis: particularly poor survival rates for cases with mutations in the zinc-binding domains. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 1995; 14: 71–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Braun S, Pantel K, Muller P, et al. Cytokeratin-positive cells in the bone marrow and survival of patients with stage I, II, or III breast cancer. N Engl J Med 2000; 342: 525–533.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan DW, Beveridge RA, Muss H, et al. Use of Truquant BR radioimmunoassay for early detection of breast cancer recurrence in patients with stage II and stage III disease. J Clin Oncol 1997; 15: 2322–2328.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clair T, Miller WR, Cho-Chung YS. Prognostic significance of the expression of a ras protein with a molecular weight of 21,000 by human breast cancer. Cancer Res 1987; 47: 5290–5293.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donegan WL. Tumor-related prognostic factors for breast cancer. CA Cancer J Clin 1997; 47: 28–51.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Esteva-Lorenzo FJ, Sastry L, King CR. The erbB-2 gene: from research to application. In: Dickson RB, Salomon DS, eds. Hormones and Growth Factors in Development and Neoplasia. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esteva FJ, Hortobagyi GN. Adjuvant systemic therapy for primary breast cancer. Surg Clin North Am 1999; 79: 1075–1090.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher B, Fisher ER, Redmond C, Brown A. Tumor nuclear grade, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor: their value alone or in combination as indicators of outcome following adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1986; 7: 147–160.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foekens JA, Portengen H, Look MP, et al. Relationship of PS2 with response to tamoxifen therapy in patients with recurrent breast cancer. Br J Cancer 1994; 70: 1217–1223.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman J. Angiogenesis in cancer, vascular, rheumatoid and other disease. Nat Med 1995; 1: 27–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fritsche HA. Serum tumor markers for patient monitoring: a case-oriented approach illustrated with carcinoembryonic antigen. Clin Chem 1993; 39: 2431–2434.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fritsche HA, Liu FJ. Tumor markers at the millennium. Proceedings of Tumor Markers Conference (Santa Barbara, CA, 1999 ). Journal Clinical Ligand 2000; 22: 320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gold P, Freedman SO. Specific carcinoembryonic antigen of the human digestive system. J Exp Med 1965; 122: 467–481.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gusterson BA, Gelber RD, Goldhirsch A, et al. Prognostic importance of c-erbB-2 expression in breast cancer. International Breast Cancer Study Group. J Clin Oncol 1992; 10: 1049–1056.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hahnel R, Woodings T, Vivian AB. Prognostic value of estrogen receptors in primary breast cancer. Cancer 1979; 44: 671–675.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammarstrom S. The carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family: structures, suggested functions and expression in normal and malignant tissues. Semin Cancer Biol 1999; 9: 67–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harris LN, Trock B, Berris M, Esteva-Lorenzo F, Paik S. The role of ERBB2 extra-cellular domain in predicting response to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1996; 15: A96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes DF, Zurawski VR, Kufe DW. Comparison of circulating CA15–3 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in patients with breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 1986; 4: 1542–1550.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holmes FA, Fritsche HA, Loewy JW, et al. Measurement of estrogen and progesterone receptors in human breast tumors: enzyme immunoassay versus binding assay. J Clin Oncol 1990; 8: 1025–1035.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isola J, Visakorpi T, Holli K, Kallioniemi OP. Association of overexpression of tumor suppressor protein p53 with rapid cell proliferation and poor prognosis in node-negative breast cancer patients. J Natl Cancer Inst 1992; 84: 1109.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isola J, Weitz S, Visakorpi T, et al. Cathepsin D expression detected by immunohistochemistry has independent prognostic value in axillary node-negative breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 1993; 11: 36–43.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kandolier-Eckersberger D, Taucher S, Steiner B, et al. P53 genotype and major response to anthracycline-or paclitaxel-based neoadjuvant treatment in breast cancer patients. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1998; 17: 392A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klijn JG, Berns PM, Schmitz PI, Foekens JA. The clinical significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in human breast cancer: a review on 5232 patients. Endocr Rev 1992; 13: 3–17.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin VM, Siewert C, Scharl A, et al. Immunomagnetic enrichment of disseminated epithelial tumor cells from peripheral blood by MACS. Exp Hematol 1998; 26: 252–264.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire WL, Tandon AK, Allred DC, Chamness GC, Clark GM. How to use prognostic factors in axillary node-negative breast cancer patients. J Natl Cancer Inst 1990; 82: 1006–1015.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Menard S, Valagussa P, Pilotti S, et al. Benefit of CMF treatment in lymph-node positive breast cancer overexpressing HER2. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1999; 18: 257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mughal AW, Hortobagyi GN, Fritsche HA, Buzdar AU, Yap HY, Blumenschein GR. Serial plasma carcinoembryonic antigen measurements during treatment of metastatic breast cancer. JAMA 1983; 249: 1881–1886.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muss H, Berry D, Thor A, et al. Lack of interaction of tamoxifen use and erbB-2/ HER-2/neu expression in CALGB 8541: a randomized adjuvant trial of three different doses of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and fluorouracil (CAF) in node-positive primary breast cancer. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1999; 18: 256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noga SJ, Kennedy MJ, Valone F, Van Vlasselaer P, Moss TJ. Density adjusted cell sorting (DACS) combined with negative CD45 enrichment of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) harvests increases the sensitivity of immunocytochemical (ICC) detection for breast cancer. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1997; 16: 102A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pantel K, Cote RJ, Fodstad O. Detection and clinical importance of micrometastatic disease. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999; 91: 1113–1124.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen AN, Brunner N, Hoyer-Hansen G, et al. Determination of the complex between urokinase and its type-1 inhibitor in plasma from healthy donors and breast cancer patients. Clin Chem 1999; 45: 1206–1213.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pegram M, Slamon DJ. Use of HER2 for predicting response to breast cancer therapy. Diseases of the Breast Updates 1999; 3: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter-Jordan K, Lippman ME. Overview of the biologic markers of breast cancer. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 1994; 8: 73–100.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Predine J, Spyratos F, Prud’homme JF, et al. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of PS2 in breast cancers, benign tumors, and normal breast tissues. Correlation with prognosis and adjuvant hormone therapy. Cancer 1992; 69: 2116–2123.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ravdin PM, Green S, Albain KS, et al. Initial report of the SWOG biological correlative study of c-erbB-2 expression as a predictor of outcome in a trial comparing adjuvant CAF T with tamoxifen (T) alone. Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 1998; 17: 97A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravdin PM, Tandon AK, Allred DC, et al. Cathepsin D by western blotting and immunohistochemistry: failure to confirm correlations with prognosis in node-negative breast cancer. J Clin Oncol 1994; 12: 467–474.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson JF, Jaeger W, Syzmendera JJ, et al. The objective measurement of remission and progression in metastatic breast cancer by use of serum tumour markers. European Group for Serum Tumour Markers in Breast Cancer. Eur J Cancer 1999; 35: 47–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ross JS, Fletcher JA. The HER-2/neu oncogene: prognostic factor, predictive factor and target for therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 1999; 9: 125–138.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sahin AA, Ro J, Ro JY, et al. Ki-67 immunostaining in node-negative stage I/II breast carcinoma. Significant correlation with prognosis. Cancer 1991; 68: 549–567.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Seidman AD, Portenoy R, Yao TJ, et al. Quality of life in phase II trials: a study of methodology and predictive value in patients with advanced breast cancer treated with paclitaxel plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. J Natl Cancer Inst 1995; 87: 1316–1322.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shek LL, Godolphin W. Survival with breast cancer: the importance of estrogen receptor quantity. Eur J Cancer Clin Oncol 1989; 25: 243–250.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Silvestrini R, Benini E, Daidone MG, et al. P53 as an independent prognostic marker in lymph node-negative breast cancer patients. J Natl Cancer Inst 1993; 85: 965–970.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simonet WS, Lacey DL, Dunstan CR, et al. Osteoprotegerin: a novel secreted protein involved in the regulation of bone density. Cell 1997; 89: 309–319.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Theriault RL, Hortobagyi GN. Bone metastasis in breast cancer. Anticancer Drugs 1992; 3: 455–462.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thor AD, Berry DA, Budman DR, et al. erbB-2, p53, and efficacy of adjuvant therapy in lymph node-positive breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1998; 90: 1346–1360.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe SM, Rose C, Rasmussen BB, et al. Steroid hormone receptors as prognostic indicators in primary breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 1986; 7 (suppl): 91–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Hoef ME, Knox WF, Dhesi SS, Howell A, Schor AM. Assessment of tumour vascularity as a prognostic factor in lymph node negative invasive breast cancer. Eur J Cancer 1993; 29A: 1141–1145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veronese SM, Gambacorta M, Gottardi O, Scanzi F, Ferrari M, Lampertico P. Proliferation index as a prognostic marker in breast cancer. Cancer 1993; 71: 3926–3931.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weidner N, Semple JP, Welch WR, Folkman J. Tumor angiogenesis and metastasis—correlation in invasive breast carcinoma. N Engl J Med 1991; 324: 1–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Esteva, F.J., Fritsche, H.A. (2001). Serum and Tissue Markers for Breast Cancer. In: Hunt, K.K., Robb, G.L., Strom, E.A., Ueno, N.T. (eds) Breast Cancer. M. D. Anderson Cancer Care Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21842-7_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21842-7_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-95190-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-21842-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics