title: Use of CA-125 to predict survival of patients with ovarian carcinoma. North Thames Cooperative Group.
abstract: The prognostic value of serum CA-125 measurements was assessed in 54 patients with advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma. All patients received a minimum of two courses of carboplatin as part of the North Thames Cooperative Group trial. With a minimum follow-up of 6 months, 37 patients (69%) have clinical evidence of progressive disease and 28 have died. The absolute prechemotherapy level of CA-125 was of no value in predicting which patients would develop progressive disease. However, the change in CA-125 levels from before chemotherapy to 1 month later, after one course of carboplatin, could be used to divide patients into different prognostic groups. The best discrimination was found by dividing the patients into those who showed a greater than sevenfold decrease in CA-125 levels and those who showed a smaller change. Eight of 14 (58%) patients with a greater than sevenfold decrease in CA-125 levels remain disease-free compared with three of 36 (9%) patients with a lesser fall (P = .0005). The change in CA-125 levels during the first month of chemotherapy may indicate which patients should be offered alternative or symptomatic therapy and which should continue with the currently available toxic chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Rustin
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Gennings
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nelstrop
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Covarrubias
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bagshawe
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate