Effects of paclitaxel on CA-125 serum levels in ovarian cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
As in vitro activation of ovarian carcinoma cells in terms of CA-125 secretion by taxanes has been demonstrated, we were interested in whether taxanes also modulate CA-125 expression in vivo.


METHODS
Serum CA-125 was determined immediately before and 24 h after paclitaxel-containing chemotherapy in 53 ovarian carcinoma patients. To test the quality of the analysis methods and the biological variation of untreated patients, serum CA-125 levels of two control groups were analyzed.


RESULTS
Median CA-125 concentration was 107 kU/liter 24 h after chemotherapy treatment compared with 99 kU/liter the day before paclitaxel treatment. Changes in CA-125 serum levels observed immediately after paclitaxel treatment were not correlated to treatment response. However, overall change in CA-125 serum concentration was a good predictor of response to paclitaxel containing treatment. Patients achieving a complete or partial response had a significant reduction of median CA-125 levels, whereas tumor progression was associated with increased CA-125 levels. Only for the group of patients obtaining a complete response was a decrease in the median relative CA-125 value observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Paclitaxel-induced modulation of CA-125 expression could not be confirmed in vivo.
Paulsen
T
T
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The Norwegian Radiumhospital, Oslo, Norway. torbjorn.paulsen@klinmed.uio.no
Marth
C
C
Kaern
J
J
Nustad
K
K
Kristensen
G B
GB
Tropé
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D017239:Paclitaxel