title: [CA 125 expression in cervical and vaginal secretions in women in normal reproductive period].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the tumor-associated antigen CA125 expression in the serum and cervical and vaginal secretions in women during normal reproductive period, and explore the clinical value of detecting tumor markers in the cervical and vaginal secretions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 145 women in reproductive period were divided into 3 age groups (20-29 years, 30-39 years, and over 40 years), and their CA125 levels in cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum were detected by automatic electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CA125 levels in the cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum showed no significant difference between the 3 age groups (P>0.05). In each group, CA125 levels differed significantly between the cervical secretion, vaginal secretion and serum (P<0.001). In the 145 women, the average CA125 level was 497.82 - or + 75.29 U/ml in the cervical secretion, 114.66 - or + 26.40 U/ml in vaginal secretion and 18.06 - or + 3.35 U/ml in serum, showing significant differences between them (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CA125 expression level is significantly higher in the cervical and vaginal secretions than in the serum in women in normal reproductive period, and its levels in cervical and vaginal secretions can be more sensitive and convenient for early detection of related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. heshuming@zsxlyy.com
authors.forename: Shu-ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Fu-qi
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Yong-li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-fan
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Zheng-qin
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xiu-qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guang-hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zi-jing
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Kong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018394:CA-125 Antigen