Circulating tumor markers in cervical cancer.
Serum levels of CA 19-9, CA 125 and CA 15-3 were measured in 91 patients with cervical cancer (16 with intraepithelial neoplasia and 75 with invasive cancer). In 35 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, serum marker levels were measured at monthly intervals during neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. CA 19-9 was found to be abnormally high only in advanced stages with an overall sensitivity of 7.3%. CA 125 and CA 15-3 were elevated in 31.9 and 23.1% of the patients, respectively, with a combined sensitivity of about 40%. The mean values of CA 125 and CA 15-3 were positively related to clinical stage and tumor differentiation. CA 125 and CA 15-3 values were correlated with response to chemotherapy in more than 80% of the cases. These findings suggest that CA 125 and CA 15-3 could be usefully employed in the management of cervical cancer.
Benedetti Panici
P
P
Department of Gynecology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
Scambia
G
G
Baiocchi
G
G
Sonsini
C
C
Greggi
S
S
Battaglia
F
F
Mancuso
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor