Evaluation of the Significance of CA-125 Levels in Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in Bihar, India

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of death among all gynecologic cancers around the world. This is so because women diagnosed with early-stage disease have a better prognosis and hence better chances of survival. Cancer antigen (CA)-125 is a high-molecular-mass glycoprotein produced both by ovarian cancer cells and also by the normal cells of tissues derived from coelomic epithelium. This study explores the significance of CA-125 for patients with ovarian cancer residing near rivers. The medical records of 80 patients treated at the Mahavir Cancer Institute and Research Centre for ovarian cancer between 2005 and 2007 with preoperative serum CA-125 levels were reviewed. Study reveals that the patients residing in the Gangetic region have the lowest mean CA-125 level (82.09 IU/mL), whereas the ovarian cancer not patients residing in the Gangetic zone have a higher mean CA-125 level (353.37 IU/mL). Although CA-125 is the best available single marker for ovarian cancer, its sensitivity and specificity might not be sufficient for the screening of patients from Bihar residing in the Gangetic zone who have epithelial ovarian cancer.