Irving, TX – Oct 16, 2019 –Tumor markers are produced by tumors or other healthy body cells in response to cancer.In cancerous conditions, the tumor markers are secreted at high levels. They help to detect metastasis or recurrence of cancer and also evaluate how a patient is responding to treatment.

“The most common tumor markers expressed in breast cancer patients include HER-2, CA 15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen, cathepsin D, nestin, cycline E, tissue polypeptide specific antigen, CA 27-29 and p53,” says Dr. Drinkard. “These tumor markers are important in diagnosis, and some of the best ones are sensitive enough to detect even the smallest tumors. Most of them are produced by different tumors of similar tissue types.”

Let’s look at some of the tumor markers named above in detail:

• Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)– CEA is the most widely used tumor marker for lung, gastrointestinal, colorectal, and breast cancer. When a breast cancer patient has high levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, it shows that their cancer may not be responding to treatment or it has recurred. CEA lacks sensitivity and specificity for the disease. Therefore, it cannot be used for screening. However, it can be used in clinical staging, diagnosis, monitoring treatment, and detecting breast cancer recurrence.

• Cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 – This is a protein antigen known as mucin (MUC). It contains carbohydrates and can be used for screening for breast cancer and other malignancies such as liver, colon, ovarian, and lung cancer. It helps to determine breast cancer prognosis and monitor treatment response.

• Estrogen Receptor (ER)– ER plays a role in cell proliferation, growth, and differentiation. It is used in breast cancer prognosis and also helps to determine a patient's response to treatment.

“Breast cancer tumor markers play different roles according to their levels of sensitivity,” says Dr. Drinkard. “While most of them are promising, there are some that require further studies for their clinical utility to be well established.”

About Choice Cancer Care
Choice Cancer Careis an independent, physician-owned cancer center network. Dr. Gregory Echt, a radiation oncologist with over two decades of experience, is the founder of Choice Cancer Care. Choice Cancer Care is among the busiest practices in the country for brachytherapy, or prostate seed implant therapy – a cancer treatment plan for prostate cancer that provides remarkable success rates and fewer life-limiting side effects.