Abstract
CA125 is the gold standard tumor marker in ovarian cancer. Serum level of CA125 is used to monitor response to chemotherapy, relapse, and disease progression in ovarian cancer patients. Thus, it is reasonable to investigate whether CA125 may have utility as a prognostic indicator as well in ovarian cancer. A large number of epidemiological studies have been carried out to this effect. This review summarizes all available epidemiological literature on the association between CA125 levels and survival in ovarian cancer. To place these studies in context, we provide some background information on CA125 and its role in ovarian cancer.
Highlights
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of mortality from gynecologic cancers in the United States (US), resulting in approximately 14,500 deaths annually [1]
Reduced survival was noted with increasing age at the time of surgery and bulk of the residual disease postoperatively [53]
The postoperative CA125 correlated to FIGO stage, tumor grade and overall survival
Summary
Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of mortality from gynecologic cancers in the United States (US), resulting in approximately 14,500 deaths annually [1]. The overall lifetime risk of developing ovarian cancer for women in the US is 1.4% to 1.8%. This risk varies from 0.6% for women with no family history, at least three term pregnancies, and four or more years of oral contraceptive use, to 3.4% for nulliparous women with no oral contraceptive use. For women with a family history, the lifetime risk for ovarian cancer is estimated at 9.4% [2]. There is marked geographical variation in age standardized incidence and mortality rates of ovarian cancer, with the highest rates observed in Northern and Western Europe, notably Scandinavia, and in North America [4]
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