Tumor marker CA 125 in diagnosis, monitoring management and follow-up of patients with ovarian tumors

Abstract

The concentration of CA 125 was defined in the blood serum of 151 patients with ovarian tumors: benign--49, borderline--5 and malignant--97. In 75.7% of benign tumors CA 125 concentrations did not exceed the normal level. In two from five patients with borderline tumors CA 125 concentration varied from 47 to 130 U/ml. High levels of CA 125 (from 125 to 10.000 U/ml and higher) were revealed in 54 from 57 patients (94.7%) with malignant ovarian tumors. If in Stages I and II elevated CA 125 levels (from 125 to 430 U/ml) were discovered in 71.4% and 80.0% of the cases, respectively, then in Stages III and IV CA 125 levels rose from 300 to 10.000 U/ml and higher in all cases. High CA 125 concentrations were noticed in 95.7% of patients with clinical signs of recurrences of the disease, and it was proved at "second-look" surgery. Thus, it was expedient to use CA 125 widely for an early detection of ovarian cancer, as a control on the efficiency of therapy and in diagnosis of subclinical recurrences of the disease.