Borderline ovarian tumors: twenty years of experience at a tertiary center

Abstract

Aims: To investigate whether there is a difference between serum tumor markers panel (CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)) and tumor size and histopathology in well-staged patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs). 
 Methods: Over the past 20 years (January 2001 to January 2021), the results of four tumor markers (CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)) have been clinically analyzed for for this retrospective cohort study of 156 patients who underwent surgery and were diagnosed with histopathology consistent with a borderline ovarian tumor.
 Results: The average age of patients with borderline ovarian tumors was determined to be 51.67 (4.726) years. Before the first surgery, high CA 125 levels (>35 U/l) were found in 53 patients (34%), high CEA levels (>4 ng/ml) were found in 24 patients (15.4%), high CA 19-9 levels (>37 U/ml) were found in 29 patients (18.6%), and high CA 15-3 (>30 ng/ml) levels were found in 12 patients (7.7%). The average CA 125 levels in tumors with serous histopathology [372.8 (1805.2)] were higher than those in tumors with mucinous histopathology (p=0.006). There was no statistically significant difference in tumor markers between tumors smaller than 8 cm and larger than 8 cm [(CA 125 p=0,257), (CEA p=0.9), (CA 19-9 p=0.295), (CA 15-3 p=0.404)].
 Conclusion: Our primary outcome of the study is an increase in CA 125 levels, which indicates serous histopathology. Our secondary outcome is the higher levels of tumor markers, but it does not suggest larger tumors.