CA 125

Serum CA 125 assay values are useful for monitoring the course of disease in patients with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. In a review of nine published studies, the overall correlation reported between CA 125 serum levels and the course of the disease was 87%. Persistently rising CA 125 assay values may be associated with malignant disease and poor response to therapy, whereas decreasing CA 125 assay values may indicate a favorable response to therapy. Elevations of CA 125 assay values have been reported in approximately 1-2% of healthy individuals, and in individuals with nonmalignant conditions such as cirrhosis, hepatitis, endometriosis, first trimester pregnancy, ovarian cysts, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Elevations of CA 125 assay values during the menstrual cycle have also been reported. Non-ovarian malignancies in which elevated CA 125 assay values have been reported include cervical, liver, pancreatic, lung, colon, stomach, biliary tract, uterine, fallopian tube, breast, and endometrial carcinomas. The CA 125 assay is not recommended as a screening procedure to detect cancer in the general population; however, use of the CA 125 assay as an aid in the management of ovarian cancer patients has been reported.