CA 15-3 is a specific marker for which type of cancer?

CA 15-3 is a tumor marker that is primarily associated with breast cancer. This glycoprotein is released into the bloodstream by breast cancer cells, and it is often used in monitoring the treatment response and disease progression in patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Elevated levels of CA 15-3 can indicate the presence of breast cancer, though it is important to note that it is not exclusively diagnostic and can be elevated in other conditions as well.

In clinical practice, while CA 15-3 can be helpful for monitoring patients with established breast cancer, it is not typically used for screening or diagnosis in asymptomatic individuals. The specificity of CA 15-3 for breast cancer makes it particularly valuable in a clinical setting focused on this malignancy compared to the other options listed, which do not show the same association with this specific marker.