title: CA 125 and other tumor markers in uterine leiomyomas and their association with lesion characteristics.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with serum levels of several tumor markers in a group of patients operated for uterine myoma. One hundred thirty-seven female patients operated for uterine myoma were included. Serum samples were examined for CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels as part of routine workup. Pathological and morphological characteristics of the patients were retrieved from medical records. The mean age was 46.7 ± 8.8 years (range, 22-85 y). Abnormally high levels of CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, CEA, and AFP were found in 19.7%, 6.6%, 5.1%, 3.7%, and 1.5% of the patients, respectively. Patients with additional adenomyosis and patients with at least one large myoma (≥ 5 cm diameter) had significantly higher levels of CA 125. Multivariate analysis identified coexistence of adenomyosis (OR 7.7 [95% CI, 2.6-23.0], p < 0.001) and presence of at least one large myoma (OR 5.6 [1.4-22.8], p = 0.016) as independent predictors of abnormally high CA 125 levels. CA 125 levels are affected by the tumor size and coexistence of adenomyosis in uterine leiomyomas. Indirect mechanisms caused by large myoma size such as peritoneal irritation may be responsible for CA 125 elevations.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Babacan
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beytepe Military Hospital Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Cem
authors: C
authors: Kizilaslan
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ismet
authors: I
authors: Gun
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Muhcu
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Ercument
authors: E
authors: Mungen
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Vedat
authors: V
authors: Atay
keywords: CA 125; CA 15-3; CA 19-9; Uterine leiomyoma; alpha fetoprotein (AFP); carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA); tumor marker; uterine fibroma