Factors influencing serum concentration of CA125 and CA15-3 in Iranian healthy postmenopausal women.
Screening for breast and ovarian cancers are required due to the late stage at diagnosis and poor survival. Serum CA125 and CA15-3 are important cancerdetecting agents in patients with ovarian and breast cancers, respectively. Elevation of CA125 and CA15-3 level correlates with malignant and non-malignant conditions. Moreover, a series of individual characteristics affect the serum level of these markers. The objective of the present study was to evaluate CA125 and CA15-3 levels in cancer-free postmenopausal women to investigate the impacts of patient parameters on the serum level of these markers. 203 subjects were studied prospectively. Serum CA125 and CA15-3 assessment was done subsequent to the direct interview. The associations between marker levels and presenting features were examined. CA125 and CA15-3 levels were elevated in 35 (17.2%) and 12 (5.9%) of persons, respectively. A higher CA125 level was associated with advanced age (p = 0.046), while a lower level was correlated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and having smoking habits (p = 0.000 and p = 0.01, respectively). CA15-3 level was remarkably lower amongst oral contraceptive (OCP) users (p = 0.03). Serum marker levels were not significantly related to menarche age, age at menopause, height, weight, BMI and parity. Serum CA125 is imperative indicator for malignancies of the ovary; however, personal and medical factors influence its serum level. A fair interpretation of results must be due to an accurate attention to the individual characteristics.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D018396:Mucin-1