title: Usefulness of determination of CA-125 in monitoring patients with ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: CA-125 was determined in 298 patients with ovarian carcinoma both initially, and during and after treatment. The upper limit of normal for CA-125 in our laboratory is 65 units/ml. Postoperatively, serum CA-125 antigen showed three distinct patterns: 20% of patients in whom levels fluctuate within the normal range have active disease; 100% of patients with fluctuations above 65 U/ml are found to have active disease; 100% of patients in whom levels of CA-125 increase progressively from any nadir, have active disease. An elevated concentration of CA-125 antigen indicates presence of tumor and allows avoidance of 2nd-look surgery. Serum CA-125 antigen fluctuating within the normal range does not indicate eradication of the viable tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Maria Skłodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kamińska
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kowalska
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sablińska
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietrzak
mesh_terms: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor