Breast Cancer Cancer Diagnostics Mammology

Cancer antigen CA 15-3 in breast cancer test: normal range and values

Julia Anderson - Oncologist
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Medically reviewed: 15, December 2023

Read Time:6 Minute

Oncomarker CA 14-3 in breast cancer tests

The CA 15-3 study is a laboratory test that aims to determine the amount of circulating antigen produced by the mammary gland secreting cells and their ducts. This glycoprotein is an oncological marker of breast carcinoma. The blood test for CA 15-3 is highly specific and sensitive, these characteristics are further enhanced when used together with the CEA test.

The final indicators are used in oncology, mammology and gynecology. They are used to track the condition of patients with breast cancer, early diagnosis of relapses, and evaluation of tumor size. Blood is taken from the vein, the analysis is performed by immunoenzyme chemiluminescent method. Normally, the indices do not exceed 25 U / ml.

The readiness of the results is 1 day.

CA 15-3 in its chemical structure is a glycoprotein with a high molecular weight. Normally, a small amount of it is produced by epithelial cells in the mammary glands, with the development of malignant neoplasm, the secretion of the antigen increases.

The increase in the level is determined for every tenth woman with breast carcinoma. At the metastatic stage, the diagnostic accuracy of the indicator is higher. Thus, the low sensitivity and specificity of the study does not allow using it for the primary diagnosis of carcinoma, especially at the initial stages of the development of the disease. The results are used to monitor the course of the pathology and identify relapses.

The concentration of CA 15-3 increases not only with the development of breast cancer. The growth of the tumor marker level is sometimes found in patients with malignant tumor localization in the rectum, lungs, ovaries, cervix, as well as in mammary gland fibroids, hepatobiliary system diseases.

Sometimes the amount of CA 15-3 increases in women during pregnancy. In clinical practice, greater interest is represented by the change in the study indices in dynamics than single values.

The rate of increase in the level of the cancer marker in the blood determines the features of the course of breast cancer, the presence of metastases. So, when they spread, the concentration of CA 15-3 begins to grow 6-9 months before the onset of clinical symptoms. The material for analysis is venous blood, the procedure is carried out chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. Results are used in endocrinology, mammology and gynecology.

Indications for antigen CA 15-3 test

The blood test for CA 15-3 is periodically prescribed to patients with established breast cancer carcinoma in order to track the dynamics of the pathological process and promptly detect a relapse.

The rate of increase in the study indices, as well as their absolute value, indicate the volume and prevalence of the tumor, since the growth of malignant cells is accompanied by increased secretion of the antigen. In addition, the results of the analysis are used to more accurately diagnose neoplasms – they help to distinguish benign mastopathy from breast cancer. Based on the results of the analysis, tactics of treatment are developed.

The blood test for CA 15-3 is not indicated for the initial diagnosis of breast cancer, including screening examinations. This use is only permissible in isolated cases in combination with tests for cancer embryonic antigen, CA 72-4, SF 125 II, ISA, as well as with instrumental and clinical methods of investigation.

The advantage of the blood test for CA 15-3 is that its results correlate with the tumor mass – the concentration of the oncomarker in the blood increases with the growth of the neoplasm. This allows you to assess the dynamics of the disease and the effectiveness of the treatment. The test is the most informative together with the research of REA.

Antigen CA 15-3: Preparation for analysis and sampling

When determining the concentration of CA 15-3, the serum of venous blood is tested. Biomaterial sampling can be carried out at any time of day, in most laboratories the procedure is performed in the morning hours.

Taking medication, a mode of activity, pregnancy – all these factors do not influence the result, therefore special preparation for delivery of blood is not required. For 30 minutes you need to give up smoking, it is also recommended to endure 3-4 hours of hunger. Most often, blood is taken from the ulnar vein. It is placed in a sealed tube and sent to a laboratory.

Before the test, the tubes with the biomaterial are placed in a centrifuge to separate the shaped elements. Then fibrinogen (clotting factor) is removed from the plasma. The resulting serum is subjected to a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay. First, it combines with antibodies labeled with an enzyme.

Specific complexes with CA 15-3 are formed. Then a chemiluminescent substrate is added to the mixture, which, when interacted with the enzyme, starts emitting non-thermal glow quanta. They are recorded with a luminometer. Taking into account the obtained values, the concentration CA 15-3 is calculated.

The entire procedure takes several hours, the results are issued the next day after the blood sample.

Oncomarker (antigen) CA 15-3: Normal range

Normally, the concentration of CA 15-3 in the blood is low. The reference values ​​for patients of any gender and age range from 0 to 25 U / ml. They may differ slightly between different laboratories, depending on the nature of the study. Therefore, for an accurate definition of the limits of the norm, they must be specified in the results form in the corresponding column.

The physiological increase in CA 15-3 concentration in the blood up to 40 U / ml can be detected in the third trimester of pregnancy. Other factors, such as nutrition, physical activity, emotional state do not affect the level of the oncomarker. It should also be taken into account that the normal test results do not exclude the presence of breast cancer – there are tumors that do not produce CA 15-3, in the early stages of the disease its level often remains normal.

Increased blood levels

The main reason for raising the level of CA 15-3 in the blood is breast cancer. With this disease, the analysis parameters are highest, there is usually a direct correlation between the concentration of the tumor marker and the size of the tumor. The highest values ​​are determined by the spread of metastases of breast carcinoma in bone tissue and liver.

Also a rather large concentration of CA 15-3 is detected in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma, stomach cancer, liver, pancreas, ovaries, cervix, endometrium. The cause of moderate and insignificant increase in the level of CA 15-3 in the blood can be autoimmune diseases, cirrhosis, hepatitis, cholangitis, chronic renal failure, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, benign breast tumors – mastopathy, fibroadenoma.

Reduction in blood levels

Since the absence and low values ​​of the oncomarker are the norm, only the reduction of its concentration during the treatment of cancer is of diagnostic significance. In this case, the reason for the decrease in the level of CA 15-3 in the blood is the success of the therapy, regression of the disease.

Breast cancer test with antigen CA 15-3: Treatment of abnormalities

The blood test for CA 15-3 has diagnostic and prognostic value when monitoring breast carcinoma. The parameters of the study allow to determine the size of the tumor, the presence of metastases, evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment and develop its further tactics.

After receiving the results for their interpretation, you should consult an oncologist. The decision on the need for therapy is made by a specialist on the basis of complex examination data, which includes both laboratory diagnostic methods and clinical and instrumental techniques.

          
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