Measurement of remission and progression in metastatic @entity0 by the use of serum @entity5 markers is simple, objective, reproducible and cost effective. The most widely used markers are a @entity2355 mucin (e.g. measured as CA15.3) and @entity478 . A combination of markers is more sensitive than using a single marker. When CA15.3, @entity478 and ESR are used as a panel of serum markers in monitoring therapeutic response, over 90% of @entity1 are biochemically assessable. A biochemical index score comprising these three markers has been devised retrospectively, validated prospectively, in a single centre and in a multicentre study. Biochemical assessment by serum markers correlates with clinical/radiological (UICC) assessment and often pre-dates remission and progression shown by UICC criteria. It is also the only validated method in monitoring metastatic @entity0 with disease unassessable by UICC criteria (e.g. sclerotic bone @entity3 , irradiated lesions). Future studies should aim at incorporating new markers (e.g. serum @entity1722 , markers of bone metabolism) to tailor different clinical situations, and at exploiting the use of serum markers to direct systemic therapy.

Objective measurement of remission and progression in metastatic XXXX by the use of serum @entity5 markers.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity478 :: ('5670', 'Gene') :: ['CEA'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumour'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases'] @entity2355 :: ('4582', 'Gene') :: ['MUC1'] @entity1722 :: ('2064', 'Gene') :: ['c-erbB2']
@entity0 :: (MESH:D001943,Disease) :: ['breast cancer']
