Tumor Markers in Dogs with Mammary Gland Tumors

The aim of this study was to determine and compare values of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen (CA 15-3) in 50 bitches with mammary tumors and 150 clinically healthy dogs. A modified procedure was used to determine the CEA and CA 15-3 markers with the human kits using the radioimmunoassay method (RIA). Samples collected from extirpated tumors of mammary glands were histologically processed and classified as per WHO guidelines. The mean values of the carcinoembryonic antigen markers +/- SD were as follows: control group 0.89 +/- 0.79, group with mammary gland tumor 1.53 +/- 1.15. The values of cancer antigen markers CA 15-3 +/- SD were: 1.52 +/- 0.66 and 2.87 +/- 1.11, respectively. The statistical significance for the carcinoembryonic antigen marker between groups was P < 0.0001. The cancer antigen CA 15-3 values between groups were also statistically significant with P < 0.0001. The results of the present study show that there are significant differences in both antigens between the control group and groups with mammary gland tumor in dogs.