Carcinoembryonic antigen in breast cancer patients: Serum levels and disease progress

Serum CEA was evaluated in 69 patients with breast cancer and 17 with benign breast disease. Serum CEA was elevated (above 2.5 ng/ml) in 6 of 22 patients (27%) with primary cancer without clinical evidence of distant metastases, and in 37 of the 47 (79%) who had metastatic disease. Sixteen of 17 patients (94%) with benign cystic disease had values less than 2.5 ng/ml (1 was 2.9 ng/ml). Fourteen patients with metastases undergoing chemo- and hormonal therapy were studied by serial CEA estimations for 3 to 18 months, with a mean of 14 months. The trends of serial CEA values correlated with response to treatment.