Increased tumor marker ca-125 in multiple myeloma: a case report

ABSTRACT

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the marrow, with plasma cells predominating. It is unlikely to encounter rising level of any tumor marker in MM patient. We present a case of 46-year-old female came to the orthopaedic clinic with chief complains of pain on her right arm, left shoulder and right hip after 5 months. The results of the bone survey of these patients showed multiple lytic lesions with a punched-out appearance in calvaria. The expansive lytic mass was seen with cortical destruction in one third proximal metaphysis to diaphysis of humerus with periosteal reaction and surrounding soft tissue mass. The basic metabolic panel (BMP) result of these patient is hipocellular with decrease of erythroid, myeloid, and megakaryocytes activity and there are 30% plasma cells with positive myeloma cells. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with MM. The laboratory result of these patient also showed elevation of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) marker to 56 and 92 (normal range is <35). The patient reported herein showed clear signs and symptoms of MM accompanied by elevated level of CA-125 and CA-15.3 tumor markers. Elevated CA-125 values most often are associated with epithelial ovarian cancer, although levels also can be increased in other malignancies such as endometrial, fallopian tube, breast, lung, esophageal, gastric, hepatic, and pancreatic. However, there were no clear mechanism of how a malignant B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the marrow stimulates the production of tumor marker such as CA-125.