Factors predictive of elevated serum CA125 levels in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Our objective was to identify factors that correlate with high CA125 (cancer antigen 125) concentrations in Tunisian women with epithelial ovarian cancer and to introduce recommendations for reporting and interpreting individual CA125 assay results. We analyzed repeated serum CA125 levels, by the immunoenzymatic assay using an AxSym CA125 kit, in 90 patients who were treated for ovarian cancer from 1994 to 2006 in CHU Farhat Hached Sousse Tunisia. Using a logistic model, we found that carcinosis is significantly predictive of high levels of serum CA125 (p = 0.005). A woman's age (> or = 45 years, p = 0.016) and menopausal status (postmenopausal patient, p = 0.034) are also predictive of increased CA125 concentration. Patients with serous histological subtype have higher CA125 values (p = 0.001). Presence of ascites is associated with high serum CA125 values and thus could be considered as a predictor of high serum CA125 concentration (p = 0.023). The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage and primary tumor size are not significant predictors of CA125 concentrations (p > 0.05). We conclude that clinically significant parameters should lead to the best interpretation of rising CA125 levels and consequently to more appropriate management of epithelial ovarian cancer patients.