Is CA 27-29 helpful in surveillance of patients with Stage I-III breast cancer in remission?

There is not really any data supporting the use of surveillance tumor markers in breast cancer and is discouraged in ASCO guidelines. In known metastatic patients, I will check both CA 15-3 and CA 27-29.

There is no data that routine bloodwork of any kind is useful for early detection of metastases and moreover, that such a practice improves outcomes or survival for women who do indeed develop distant recurrences. Guidelines for routine breast cancer follow-up and treatment after primary treatment were addressed in the 2012 ASCO guidelines. The guidelines state, "The use of complete blood counts, chemistry panels, bone scans, chest radiographs, liver ultrasounds, pelvic ultrasounds, computed tomography scans, 18F-FDG positron emission tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging, and/or tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen, CA 15-3, and CA 27.29) is not recommended for routine follow-up in an otherwise asymptomatic patient with no specif...