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 @entity0 by the use of serum XXXX 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']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['tumour']
