While no one of the these markers efficiently detects all breast cancers, a combination of two or more could achieve a very high sensitivity in assaying for circulating or occult breast cancer cells.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a tumor marker for lung cancers of small cell (SCLC) and non-small cell (NSCLC) types, belongs in a multigene family which includes non-specific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) and biliary glycoprotein 1 (BGP). We used specific cDNA probes and a CEA immunoassay to determine the pattern of expression in normal and malignant lung and gastrointestinal (GI) tissues. Normal lung contained high amounts of NCA and a low concentration of CEA. All 3 genes were expressed discordantly in lung tumors and cell lines. In contrast, all three genes were expressed in most G1 tumor cell lines. In both lung and colorectal cell lines expression of NCA RNA was relatively high, while BGP RNA was relatively low, and the median concentrations of CEA were greater than in corresponding non-malignant tissues. While CEA protein concentrations in lung cell lines were similar to those present in G1 cell lines, the ratio of NCA:CEA RNA was significantly higher in lung cancer lines than in colorectal lines. Thus, NCA constitutes most of the "CEA-like" immunoreactivity previously described in lung cancers. There was excellent concordance between expression of CEA RNA and CEA protein, as well as between concentrations of CEA protein in cell line pellets and supernatant fluids. Of interest, significantly higher rates of CEA expression were present in lung cancers expressing neuroendocrine (NE) markers. The association between CEA expression and NE cell properties is intriguing and may prove to be of clinical interest.

Factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin (PT) G20210A mutations are associated with increased risk of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and obstetric complications. The development of inexpensive and reliable screening methods will assist in defining subpopulations of patients at risk who should undergo testing. We used a method, developed by Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL), to study 5,000 pregnant women and evaluated the association of obstetric complications with the presence of the FVL and PT G20210A mutations. We found a statistically significant association between FVL and stillbirth. There were also trends toward an association between FVL and placental abruption and between PT G20210A and intrauterine growth retardation. In addition, an association may exist between PT G20210A and preterm delivery for white women. All other parameters studied, including miscarriage and preeclampsia, did not show a statistically significant association with FVL or PT G20210A. These results confirm the association between genetic thrombophilia and selected obstetric complications.

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