title: CA125-response assessment in epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: To assess the clinical potential of serial serum CA125 measurements in the follow-up of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 74 consecutive unselected patients with histologically confirmed ovarian carcinoma were studied prospectively. There was an 83% concordance between clinical assessment and CA125 assessment of response. The positive predictive values of a rising CA125 for disease progression and a falling CA125 for disease regression were 0.93 and 0.94, respectively. The absolute CA125 values during observations of complete response (mean 96 U/ml; 95% confidence interval; 33 to 128 U/ml), partial response (mean 134 U/ml; 95% confidence interval; 98 to 159 U/ml) and stable or progressive disease (mean 391 U/ml; 95% confidence interval; 282 to 545 U/ml) were significantly different. A randomized study is required to determine whether CA125 monitoring has any benefit in terms of outcome, and particularly survival, in epithelial ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Aberdeen, Royal Infirmary, Scotland.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cruickshank
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Fullerton
mesh_terms: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor