The trend of serum CA125 levels during the first three courses of chemotherapy as a predictor of second-look findings in patients with ovarian carcinoma.
The serum CA125 levels were monitored monthly in a group of 20 patients with ovarian carcinoma undergoing a six-month chemotherapy cycle. None of the 8 patients with serum CA125 levels higher than 65 U/ml before the third course of chemotherapy had negative second-look findings at the end of chemotherapy. Conversely, no evidence of disease at surgical re-evaluation was found in 9 out of 12 (75%) patients with antigen levels lower than 65 U/ml before the third chemotherapy course; on the other hand, none of the 4 patients of this group in whom serum CA125 values fell below 65 U/ml only after the third course, achieved a complete surgical response. Among the 9 patients in whom second-look surgery documented a complete response, 8 had CA125 levels below 35 U/ml and one had CA125 values above 35 U/ml but lower than 65 U/ml at the three-month check-point. These data suggest that the trend of serum CA125 levels during the first three courses of chemotherapy is a strong predictor of second-look findings in patients with ovarian carcinoma at the completion of treatment.
Gadducci
A
A
Ferdeghini
M
M
Bartolini
T
T
Facchini
V
V
Mariani
G
G
Bianchi
R
R
Fioretti
P
P
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003536:Cystadenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor