[Value of CA 125 as a tumor marker in ovarian carcinoma].
Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) is a high molecular weight antigenic glycoprotein. It is recognized in the serum by a monoclonal antibody. Rising of serum levels is most frequently observed in borderline and malignant serous ovary tumors. Occasionally other cancers show elevated levels of CA 125. Structure derived from the celomic epithelium can also show elevated levels of CA 125.


OBJECTIVE
Review the useful of CA 125 for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with ovarian carcinoma.


METHODS
To obtain the information, an extensive and up-to-date bibliographic review was done about this topic.


RESULTS
This tumor marker has an excelent sensibility although it is not especific. As it cannot develop tumors smaller than 1 cm, it is not indicated for populational screenings.


CONCLUSIONS
CA 125 is useful to follow-up of patients whose ovarian carcinoma had already been diagnosed and suffered surgery procedures followed for chemotherapy. In this cases CA 125 show the therapeutic response.
Barrios
C H
CH
Serviço de Oncologia, Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre.
de P Guedes Neto
E
E
Monteggia
P
P
Fuhrmeister
F
F
Basso
A
A
Siqueira
D P
DP
D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D018394:CA-125 Antigen
Valor do CA 125 como marcador tumoral no carcinoma ovariano.