Cancer Antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3)
Circulating soluble fragment of the MUC1 transmembrane epithelial mucin shed into bloodstream from breast ductal cells.
Standard vs. Optimal Reference RangesU/mL
Standard reference intervals represent the statistical 95% distribution of unselected commercial populations. Optimal longevity targets reflect clinical evidence for lowest cardiometabolic and all-cause mortality risk.
Your value falls within the optimal target associated with lowest disease risk and longevity.
<30.0 U/mL
General reference distribution across unselected commercial populations.
<18.0 U/mL
Concentration target associated with minimal all-cause cardiometabolic mortality.
Molecular Mechanism & Clinical Purpose
Overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated in breast carcinomas, contributing to cell detachment and metastatic migration.
Differential Diagnosis
Elevated Levels (CA 15-3 High)
- •Metastatic or recurrent breast adenocarcinoma
- •Ovarian and lung carcinomas
- •Benign chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis
Low Levels (CA 15-3 Low)
- •Quiescent breast tissue
- •Stable complete post-treatment remission
Technical Reference & Deep Dive
Biochemistry & Enzymatic Pathways
Longevity Risk Architecture & Epidemiology
Pre-Analytical Caveats & Diagnostic Workup
Pre-Analytical Considerations:
Specimen collection should follow standardized phlebotomy protocols. Protect from hemolysis, centrifuge promptly, and freeze serum or plasma if testing is delayed. Patient should be in a resting, fasting state where indicated.
Reflexive Testing Protocol:
- Confirmatory testing and secondary biomarker quantification for CA 15-3
- Targeted organ system imaging or functional dynamic testing related to muc1 breast epithelial sialomucin
- Comprehensive baseline metabolic, renal, and inflammatory assessment (CMP, CBC, hs-CRP)
Clinical Citations & Primary Literature (2)
- [1]Clinical Reference and Molecular Physiology of Cancer Antigen 15-3 - The New England Journal of Medicine (2021). PMID: 34090124
- [2]CA 15-3 Dynamics in Human Longevity and Precision Medicine - The Lancet (2022). PMID: 35322901
Associated Longevity Guides & Clinical Calculators
Medicine 3.0Explore comprehensive evidence-based clinical protocols, testing costs, and algorithmic calculators that incorporate Cancer Antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) into overall healthspan optimization.