@Article{, title={Salivary tumor marker CA15-3 and selected elements in relation to oral health status among a group of breast cancer women}, author={Basma Abdul Bari Azeez بسمة عبد الباري عزيز and Ahlam T. Mohammed}, journal={Journal of baghdad college of dentistry مجلة كلية طب الاسنان بغداد}, volume={27}, number={3}, pages={124-129}, year={2015}, abstract={Background: Breast cancer is the commonest type of malignancy worldwide and in Iraq. It is a serious disease thataffects the general health and cause systemic changes that affect the physical and chemical properties of salivaleading to adverse effects on oral health. This study was conducted to assess the tumor marker CA15-3 and selectedelements in saliva and their relation to oral health status among breast cancer patients compared to control group.Materials and Methods: The total sample consisted of 60 women aged 35-45 years. 30 women were newly diagnosedwith breast cancer before taking any treatment and surgery (study group) and 30 women without clinical signs andsymptoms of breast cancer as a control group. Dental caries was recorded using DMFS index of WHO1987, andperiodontal parameters which include plaque index (PlI), calculus index (CalI), gingival index (GI), and Ramfjodindex for the loss of periodontal attachment (CAL) were recorded. Stimulated salivary samples were collected andsalivary flow rate, salivary CA15-3 and selected elements were determined.Results: Caries experience (DMFS) was higher among the study group compared with the control group but thedifference was statistically not significant. The mean values of plaque index, calculus index, gingival index and loss ofattachment were higher among the study group than the control group with a highly significant difference(P<0.01).The concentrations of the tumor marker CA15-3 in saliva of breast cancer patients were highly significantly higherthan that of the controls. The salivary flow rate was observed to be lower among study group compared to controlgroup with a highly significant difference (P<0.01). Higher concentrations of salivary phosphorus, copper and totalproteins were recorded among study group compared to control with statistically highly significant differencesconcerning phosphorus and copper. While salivary calcium and zinc were lower among study group compared tocontrol group with statistically highly significant difference concerning zincConclusions: This study showed that the breast cancer patients had poor oral hygiene and higher rates ofperiodontal diseases and dental caries. In addition, the results of this study could support the concept that salivaryconcentrations of CA15–3 might serve to be used in the detection of breast cancer and/or the post-operative followupof patients under treatment for carcinoma of the breast

} }