In 30 of 63 patients with disseminated breast cancer, CEA became positive before medical therapy. Treatment response was obtained in 63.3% of CEA-positive patients compared to 15.2% of CEA-negative patients. The CEA-positive patients also had a longer relapse-free survival, a longer survival from diagnosis of metastases, and a longer overall survival from primary surgery than CEA-negative patients. CEA production appears to be an important and favorable prognostic factor in disseminated breast cancer and determinant of treatment response.
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