Intensive post-operative follow-up of breast cancer patients with tumour markers: CEA, TPA or CA15.3 vs MCA and MCA-CA15.3 vs CEA-TPA-CA15.3 panel in the early detection of distant metastases

Table 2 Sensitivity of MCA (*≥11 or **≥15 U/mL cut-off values)-CA15.3 and CEA-TPA-CA15.3 panels in the early detection of 19 relapses during an intensive post-operative follow-up with tumour markers.

	CE or PI of tumour markers as the initial pathological finding of relapse
Tumour marker association	^aRelapses (total, n)	Sensitivity (%)	Tumour marker increase		Lead time (months) m + sd (range)
			type	n
*MCA-CA15.3	13	68	CE PI	8 5	7.1 ± 6.8 (0–22)
CEA-TPA-CA15.3	10	53	CE PI	5 5	3.9 ± 4.9 (0–14)
**MCA-CA15.3	11	58	CE PI	8 3	5.9 ± 6.7 (0–18)
CEA-TPA-CA15.3	14	74	CE PI	8 6	4.6 ± 5.9 (0–18)

^aTotal number of patients = 18; one patient after radical removal by surgery of a single metastatic lesion relapsed (also see Result section). Therefore, percentages are calculated on 19 relapses; CE = constant elevation; PI = progressive increase.