Clinical significance of CA125 regression in chemotherapy of advanced ovarian cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the serum CA125 regression in advanced ovarian carcinoma patients treated with paclitaxel/platinum (TP) and platinum/epirubicin/ifosfamide (PAC) during early chemotherapy. The relationship between survival and CA125 regression during first line chemotherapy was evaluated. This retrospective investigation assessed 122 and 95 patients with stages IIc-IV ovarian carcinoma who underwent initial surgery followed by TP or PAC chemotherapy, respectively. Only epithelial ovarian cancers were included. CA125 half-life was calculated by mono-compartmental logarithmic regression. Every patient’s nadir CA125 concentration was also studied. T-test was used in comparing CA125 half-life and nadir CA125 between two groups. Survival analyses for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) used univariate (Kaplan-Meier) and multivariate (Cox) models for all of the patients. There was not significant difference in CA125 half-life and nadir CA125 concentration between two groups (P > 0.05). CA125 half-life and nadir CA125 concentration had a univariate prognostic value for PFS and OS (P 0.05, for each). In Cox models, CA125 half-life (P = 0.0006), residual tumour (P < 0.0001), and nadir concentration (P = 0.0032) were significant prognostic factors for disease free survival (DFS). For OS, CA125 half-life (P = 0.0013), residual tumor (P < 0.0001), and nadir concentration (P = 0.0118) were also the significant prognostic factors. There isn’t significant difference in serum CA125 regression between patients who are treated with PAC or PT during early chemotherapy. CA125 half-life and nadir CA125 concentration are independent prognostic factor in advanced ovarian cancer.