title: CA 125 as a tumour marker in epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: CA 125, a high molecular weight glycoprotein, was measured in sera from patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, patients with benign gynaecological disease and in patients with non-ovarian adenocarcinomas. High levels (greater than 35 U/ml) were found in 48/50 patients with active ovarian cancer but in only 3/26 patients who had an ovarian cancer previously diagnosed but who were apparently disease free. 6/23 patients with non-ovarian adenocarcinomas as well as 4/18 patients with benign gynaecological disease also had elevated levels. CA 125 levels were higher in serious than non-serous ovarian cancers and tended to increase with increasing stage. In all of 19 patients with ovarian cancer who responded to treatment CA 125 levels fell while 17/20 with progressive disease showed a rise. In 7/8 patients, serial determination of CA 125 showed a rise before the clinical detection of recurrence, the median lead-time being 3.5 months. We conclude that CA 125 is an excellent marker in the management of patients with epithelial ovarian cancers.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fennelly
mesh_terms: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D012704:Serous Membrane / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate