The use of blood @entity5 markers in the monitoring of metastatic XXXX unassessable for response to systemic therapy.

@entity5 @entity1 @entity0 @entity787
The role of blood @entity5 markers is established in the monitoring of response to systemic therapy for @entity1 with metastatic @entity0 assessable by UICC criteria. This paper examines the use of marker measurements (in the form of a previously devised biochemical index score comprising CA15.3, @entity787 and ESR) in @entity1 with metastatic lesions unassessable for response by UICC criteria. Of 218 @entity1 with metastatic @entity0 treated over a 2-year period in the Nottingham Breast Unit, 43 @entity1 (20%) had unassessable disease and 36 of them with blood marker results available were studied. Eighty-six per cent of @entity1 were biochemically assessable. All @entity1 who achieved biochemical response remained unassessable by UICC criteria. Twenty-two @entity1 progressed initially or subsequently (after an initial biochemical response), either biochemically or by UICC criteria. Biochemical assessment completely paralleled UICC assessment in all eight @entity1 who progressed by both assessments. Biochemical progression occurred ahead of UICC assessment in four of them with a median lead-time of 4.5 months. Biochemical assessment by blood @entity5 markers is useful in @entity1 with metastatic @entity0 unassessable for response to systemic therapy. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger @entity1 series.
