Serum concentrations of cancer antigen 125, placental alkaline phosphatase, cancer-associated serum antigen and free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin as prognostic markers for epithelial ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prognostic significance of elevated levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA125), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), free beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and cancer-associated serum antigen (CASA) in women with primary epithelial ovarian carcinoma.


METHODS
A two year follow up study of survival.


METHODS
A tertiary care gynaecological oncology unit.


METHODS
One hundred and eleven women with histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Survival over a two year period.


RESULTS
Stage corrected log-rank chi 2 tests demonstrated a significant effect on survival for all four tumour markers (CA125 P = 0.0142; PLAP P < 0.0001; CASA P = 0.0098; hCG P = 0.0002). This was confirmed when each variable was fitted together with disease stage in Cox proportional hazard models. When fitted as multiple variables in a Cox proportional hazard model, the addition of free beta-hCG and CASA to disease stage, PLAP concentrations and CA125 levels did not demonstrate further prognostic value.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of all four markers correlate with survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. The combination of PLAP and CA125 concentrations together with disease stage may be used to predict survival but the addition of hCG and CASA levels do not give additional prognostic information.
Ind
T
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge, UK.
Iles
R
R
Shepherd
J
J
Chard
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D018396:Mucin-1; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; C019839:alkaline phosphatase, placental