title: Clinical value of tumor markers in gestational trophoblastic diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical importance of serum biomarkers in diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine pregnant women with molar pregnancy and 19 healthy pregnant women with corresponding age, gravity, parity and gestational age were matched. Serum levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, CA 242 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mean serum values were compared between the groups using Mann-Whitney, chi2 and paired t tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AFP levels were higher in the control group. CA 19-9 serum values are increased in patients with GTD. Comparing mean CA 19-9 serum levels between the groups demonstrated a meaningful relation (p = 0.012). CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 242 and CEA are not affected by molar pregnancy, and no significant difference was observed between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low AFP levels and increased CA 19-9 levels can be used as tumor markers in diagnosis of molar pregnancies in conjunction with clinical and sonographic findings and serum levels of hCG. Serum levels of CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 242 and CEA did not provide reliable information in diagnosis of GTD.
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ardalan Ejaz
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Alamtaj Samsami
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dehaghani
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaker
authors.forename: Mohamad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fattahi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D031901:Gestational Trophoblastic Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins