Table 2 Mean tumour marker levels during fulvestrant treatment

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

P-values (1→4 months)

P-values (1→6 months)

PR (n = 7)

   CA 15-3

144.00

128.54

156.87

178.16

170.19

197.01

   (kU/l)

+/-171.75

+/-164.90

+/-194.54

+/-227.42

+/-256.43

+/-270.54

N.S.

N.S.

   CEA

5.31

4.17

3.87

3.81

3.46

4.06

   (μg/l)

+/-3.96

+/-2.82

+/-2.61

+/-2.54

+/-2.78

+/-2.95

N.S.

0.0165

SD ≥ 6 months (n = 28)

   CA 15-3

184.68

214.00

226.54

240.64

269.05

268.61

   (kU/l)

/-214.08

+/-262.54

+/-297.58

+/-305.39

+/-352.19

+/-338.27

0.0023

< 0.0001

   CEA

52.59

43.63

43.49

58.01

55.28

72.70

   (μg/l)

+/-201.99

+/-153.74

+/-153.73

+/-224.58

+/-203.94

+/-307.61

N.S.

0.0399

SD ≥ 6 < 9 months (n = 14)

   CA 15-3

205.21

232.21

265.50

281.07

302.71

309.04

   (kU/l)

+/-256.19

+/-309.81

+/-378.08

+/-378.57

+/-424.97

+/-429.82

0.0017

0.0002

SD ≥ 9 months (n = 14)

   CA 15-3

164.14

195.79

185.57

200.21

214.50

229.07

209.55

258.61

263.29

   (kU/l)

+/-169.24

+/-215.55

+/-194.18

+/-216.47

+/-229.92

+/-263.48

+/-226.84

+/-283.62

+/-292.21

0.0405

0.0146

De novo PD (n = 32)

   CA 15-3

259.91

419.41

441.16

580.31

   (kU/l)

+/-419.29

+/-994.42

+/-790.95

+/-1052.69

< 0.0001

   CEA

140.61

192.37

199.98

250.09

   (μg/l)

+/-652.01

+/-902.53

+/-907.67

+/-1087.32

0.0002

Secondary PD (n = 28)

   CA 15-3

411.20^a

510.67^b

572.50^c

698.72^d

   (kU/l)

+/-541.50

+/-834.03

+/-891.17

+/-1164.36

< 0.0001

   CEA

56.32 ^a

53.46 ^b

69.99 ^b

110.32 ^d

   (μg/l)

+/-224.80

+/-203.92

+/-269.53

+/-473.03

< 0.0001