Test Aids Management of Breast Cancer
By HospiMedica staff writers
Posted on 25 Feb 2004
A test for the quantitative determination of cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 levels in human serum and plasma can be used to monitor the treatment of breast cancer.Posted on 25 Feb 2004
The test, called BR Monitor, is available on the Access immunoassay system of Beckman Coulter, Inc. (Fullerton, CA, USA). CA 15-3 antigen levels are most commonly elevated in patients with breast cancer, but can also be present in patients with lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer, as well as nonmalignant conditions such as benign breast and liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatitis.
"Increased CA 15-3 antigen levels may reflect a progression of breast cancer, while decreasing levels may indicate a positive response to therapy,” said Vernon Mustoe, Ph.D., a medical information scientist at Beckman Coulter. The company's tumor marker menu also includes the recently announced Access GI Monitor for pancreatic cancer. The BR Monitor is also available on the Access 2 and UniCel DxI 800 Access immunoassay systems.
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