CA 15-3 is used to monitor which cancer?

CA 15-3 is used to monitor which cancer?

• A. Ovarian adenocarcinoma
• B. Breast adenocarcinoma
• C. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma
• D. Choriocarcinoma

Answer: (B)

CA 15-3 is a tumor marker used mainly to monitor breast cancer. It reflects disease burden in patients with known breast adenocarcinoma, helping assess response to therapy and watch for recurrence. It’s not a diagnostic tool and isn’t reliable for screening, since elevations can occur in non-malignant conditions and not all breast cancers raise CA 15-3. Other cancers have different markers—for example, CA-125 for ovarian cancer, CA 19-9 for pancreatic cancer, and beta-hCG for choriocarcinoma. So the marker that’s best for monitoring this cancer is associated with breast cancer.

CA 15-3 is a tumor marker used mainly to monitor breast cancer. It reflects disease burden in patients with known breast adenocarcinoma, helping assess response to therapy and watch for recurrence. It’s not a diagnostic tool and isn’t reliable for screening, since elevations can occur in non-malignant conditions and not all breast cancers raise CA 15-3. Other cancers have different markers—for example, CA-125 for ovarian cancer, CA 19-9 for pancreatic cancer, and beta-hCG for choriocarcinoma. So the marker that’s best for monitoring this cancer is associated with breast cancer.