Tumor-associated antigen Ca - 125 in ovarian cancer.

ABSTRACT

Determinations of the serum Ca-125 levels were carried out on 45 samples from healthy women, 22 samples of benign ovarian tumors including tumor-like conditions, 33 samples of ovarian cancer and 14 cases of common epithelial cancer at second-look laparotomy. The Ca-125 levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay using a commercial kit by Fujirebio Inc. Japan. The cut off levels of Ca-125 values were set at > 30 IU/ml, which made the specificity, sensitivity and positive predictive values 80.0, 84.8 and 75.7 percent respectively. The demonstrable ovarian cancer gave positive Ca-125 values among serous cystadenocarcinoma in all case while endometrioid adenocarcinoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma were 80.0 and 66.6 percent respectively. Two sex cord tumors and 2 of 3 malignant germ cell tumors had positive Ca-125 values in low levels. Those with small residual cancer at second-look laparotomy, 1-2 cm in diameter, had positive Ca-125 values, and one of 12 patients had false-negative value despite the presence of microresidual cancer. Ovarian endometriosis had positive Ca-125 values about 55.5 percent but in low levels.