An independent evaluation of the potential clinical usefulness of proposed CA-125 indices previously shown to be of prognostic significance in epithelial ovarian cancer.
CA-125 levels were assessed prior to each of the first three cycles of chemotherapy, in 81 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer receiving first-line chemotherapy. All patients have at least 1 year's follow-up. Thirty-nine patients (48%) have progressed clinically or have died within 1 year of treatment (treatment 'failures'). Three CA-125 indices previously shown to be of prognostic value are assessed for their ability to pick-out these 'failures'. When the indices examined are modified to obtain a specificity for picking out failures just exceeding 90%, the maximum sensitivity obtained was 46%. The use of CA-125 for clinical decision making in ovarian cancer requires further investigation to determine and validate a prognostic index with acceptable sensitivity and specificity, and to determine the clinical impact of treatment decisions made using such an index.
Cruickshank
D J
DJ
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Aberdeen, UK.
Paul
J
J
Lewis
C R
CR
McAllister
E J
EJ
Kaye
S B
SB
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate