RESUMEN
The mean value of CA 125 tumor marker in the sera of ovarian cancer patients was found to be ten times higher than that detected in the control group [normal individuals, patients with benign ovarian tumor and those with non-ovarian gynecologic malignancies]. Histologically, the major distribution of elevated values of CA 125 antigen was observed in secondary ovarian metastasis and those with epithelial ovarian tumors, respectively. The incidence of abnormal values of CA 125 was also increased with advanced stages of the disease. An elevated preoperative value of CA 125 [> 300 micro/ml] was able to predict poor prognosis while low concentrations [< 100 micro/ml] suggested early detection of the disease. All patients with ovarian carcinoma had positive abnormal concentrations of CA 125 in their sera [100% sensitivity]. In the control group only 20% of the women gave false positive values of CA 125 [80% specificity]. Such combination of sensitivity and specificity for CA 125 antigen was superior to other tumor markers