Serum Carbohydrate antigen-125 levels as a marker in non Hodgkin's lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Sixty-seven patients with newly diagnosed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma [NHL] were included in this study. Serial measurements of serum carbohydrate antigen 125 [CA-125] levels were studied in conjunction with serum lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] in monitoring response to treatment. LDH showed increased levels in 52 out of 67 patients. Ten apparently healthy subjects were studied as a control group. A total of 36 out of 67 patients had increased serum CA-125 levels. Increased serum CA-125 levels were significantly associated with advanced stage, higher grade, abdominal serosal involvement, bone marrow involvement and bulky disease. P values were significant in abdominal involvement and in serosal involvement. Elevated serum CA-125 levels were associated with high serum levels of LDH. Of the 36 patients presented with high serum CA-125 levels, 30 patients achieved a complete remission [CR] with normalization of CA-125, four cases achieved partial response and two patients had stable disease and had not achieved normalization of CA-125 levels by the end of the treatment. In conclusion, high serum CA-125 levels were significantly associated with mediastinal, abdominal involvement, high tumor bulk and pleural effusion. Sensitivity of serum LDH and CA-125 was 83.6% and 66.6%, respectively, which indicated that the biologic information provided by them are different. Serum LDH provides a measurement of the tumor load and proliferate activity, while serum CA-125 provides the invasive potential of the tumor