[Significance of tumor-associated CA-125 antigen in the diagnosis and monitoring of ovarian cancer].

Blood serum levels of CA 125 were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 60 patients with ovarian carcinoma during the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. The level of this antigen was found correlating with the disease stage and surpassing the normal value in 18% of cases with Stage II, in 62.2% of those with Stage III, and in 91% of those with Stage IV condition. Therefore, measurements of CA 125 may be used in the diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma, identification of the origin of ascitic fluid, and objective evaluation of the therapeutic effect. CA 125 is a IVth Stage marker in cancer of the stomach or rectum. Measurements of this antigen improve the accuracy of ovarian carcinoma diagnosis by 15%.