Significance of carcinoembryonic and tissue polypeptide antigen determination in the diagnosis of metastases in breast cancer.

A radioimmunological assay of CEA and TPA levels in breast cancer patients revealed a 93.7% concordance of negative and 93.4% of positive values with the clinical activity of the disease. In 26 out of a group of 38 patients (68.4%) with progressive breast carcinoma, an enhanced CEA and TPA level was the first indicator of the presence of metastases. In view of the results obtained, the authors consider this procedure to be a suitable method for monitoring and early detection of metastases in patients with breast cancer.