Prognostic role of serum CA15.3 in 362 node-negative breast cancers : an old player for a new game

The aims of the present investigation were to evaluate the association between serum CA15.3 levels and other biological and clinical variables and its prognostic role in patients with node-negative breast cancer. We evaluated 362 patients operated upon primary breast cancer from 1982 to 1992 (median follow-up 69 months). Serum CA15.3 was measured by an immunoradiometric assay. The association between variables was investigated by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the prognostic role of CA15.3 on relapse-free survival (RFS) was investigated by Cox regression models adjusting for age, oestrogen receptor (ER), tumour stage, and ERxage interaction, with both the likelihood ratio test and Harrell's c statistic. The prognostic contribution of CA 15.3 was highly significant. Log relative hazard of relapse was constant until approximately 10 (U/ml) of CA15.3 and increased thereafter with increasing marker levels. CA15.3 showed a significant contribution using as a cut-off point a value of 31 U/ml. However, the contribution to the model of the marker as a continuous variable is much greater. From these findings, we can conclude that: (i) CA15.3 is a prognostic marker in node-negative breast cancer; (ii) its relationship with prognosis is continuous, with the risk of relapse increasing progressively from approximately 10 U/ml.