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Circulating Tumour Markers in Breast Cancer

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Breast Cancer

Abstract

A large number of markers have been proposed for breast cancer, but among them only CA 15.3, CEA and cytokeratins (i.e. TPA, TPS and Cyfra 21.1) are currently used in clinical practice. Serum marker levels reflect tumour burden, and for this reason they are not sensitive enough to be used for screening and early diagnosis of primary breast cancer. By contrast, the role of tumour markers is established in the diagnosis of recurrent disease and in the evaluation of response to treatment. In the former case, however, prospective randomised studies are required to demonstrate any survival benefit when earlier therapeutic interventions are instituted upon elevation of serum markers. In the second case, tumour marker evaluation represents a simple, objective method for monitoring of therapeutic response that seems to offer significant advantages over conventional imaging methods (e.g., objectivity and modifications in tumour biology). Furthermore, research studies are ongoing to identify and validate new biochemical parameters that can be of use not only in advanced disease, but also in other stages of the diagnostic workup of breast cancer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radioisotopes Laboratory, Nuclear Medicine Division, Fondazione IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy

    Ettore Seregni

  2. Nuclear Medicine Unit, Ospedale S. Andrea, La Spezia, Italy

    Antonio Coli

  3. Nuclear Medicine Division, Ospedale Misericordia, Grosseto, Italy

    Nicola Mazzuca

Authors
  1. Ettore Seregni
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  2. Antonio Coli
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  3. Nicola Mazzuca
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nuclear Medicine Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy Fondazione IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Emilio Bombardieri MD

  2. Division of Medical Oncology Fondazione IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Luca Gianni MD

  3. Perspective Clinical Trials Fondazione IRCCS, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milano, Italy

    Gianni Bonadonna MD (Chair) (Chair)

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Seregni, E., Coli, A., Mazzuca, N. (2008). Circulating Tumour Markers in Breast Cancer. In: Bombardieri, E., Gianni, L., Bonadonna, G. (eds) Breast Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-36781-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-36781-9_4

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