Elevated Circulating CA 15.3 Levels in a Subset of Systemic Sclerosis With Severe Lung Involvement

Increased life expectancy in patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia consequently increases the risk for neoplastic diseases. This study was conducted to assess the levels of five common tumour markers in thalassaemic patients and to investigate possible correlations to demographical, clinical and laboratory data. Eighty-five patients (44 female and 41 male) with homozygous beta-thalassaemia (mean age = 27.92 +/- 12.5), on regular blood transfusions and adequate chelation treatment, and 60 sex and age- matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Blood samples for the determination of carcinoma antigen (CA) 15.3, CA 125, CA 19.9, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein (a-FP) were collected from every subject. Results showed that 69% of the thalassaemic patients had abnormal levels of CA 15.3, whereas only sporadic cases had increased levels of CA 125 and CA 19.9. On the contrary, all controls had normal levels of CA 15.3, CA 19.9 and CA 125. CEA and a-FP were within reference ranges both in the thalassaemic and in the control group. Levels of CA 15.3 were significantly lower in patients aged less than 20 years compared to older patients. Male patients had significantly increased levels of CA 15.3 compared to female patients. Relatively recent studies show an increased expression of CA 15.3 on progenitor cells of the erythroid lineage and increased amounts of circulating progenitor cells even in well-transfused thalassaemic patients. However, it seems that there are also other factors contributing to this phenomenon. In conclusion, our results indicate that CA 15.3 seems to be an unreliable marker of occult malignancy in patients with beta-thalassaemia. However, more studies are needed to support these preliminary results.

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Evaluation of serum tumour markers concentrations in patients with homozygous β-thalassaemia in relation to demographical, clinical and biochemical parameters

Christoforidis

Lefkou

Vlachaki

et al. 2007

Ann Hematol

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Cancer antigen 15/3: possible diagnostic use in veterinary clinical oncology. Preliminary study

Marchesi

Manuali

Pacifico³

et al. 2010

Vet Res Commun

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The cancer antigen 15/3 is a mucin that is associated with the cell membrane, encoded by the MUC1 gene, and recognized by the monoclonal-clone DF3 antibody. The latter antigen was discovered to be specific for both the identification of human mammary neoplasia and during patient follow-up evaluations. The aim of this study is to report and compare the results of the application of direct chemiluminescence in canine blood sera and the kit utilized in human medicine for the determination of Ca 15/3 to verify the diagnostic efficiency of the kit in cases presenting mammary tumors. Specifically, CA 15/3 has proven to be measurable in all samples assayed to distinguish clinically healthy subjects from those with mammary neoplasia.

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Malignancies and soluble tumor antigens in rheumatic diseases

Szekanecz

András

Sándor

et al. 2006

Autoimmunity Reviews

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Elevated Circulating CA 15.3 Levels in a Subset of Systemic Sclerosis With Severe Lung Involvement

Cited by 17 publications

References 3 publications

Evaluation of serum tumour markers concentrations in patients with homozygous β-thalassaemia in relation to demographical, clinical and biochemical parameters

Evaluation of serum tumour markers concentrations in patients with homozygous β-thalassaemia in relation to demographical, clinical and biochemical parameters

Cancer antigen 15/3: possible diagnostic use in veterinary clinical oncology. Preliminary study

Malignancies and soluble tumor antigens in rheumatic diseases

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