Impact of tumour marker measurements upon management of patients with carcinoma of the ovary.

The clinical value of serum CA 125 in the management of patients with ovarian carcinoma has now been proven. Its role in screening for early potentially curable disease remains unproven due to its low sensitivity for early disease and requires further study in clinical trials. Its use in diagnosis of malignant pelvic lesions could lead to a more appropriate operation. Its most useful present application is to indicate which patients are no longer responding to chemotherapy and to prevent them being given unnecessary unpleasant treatment and also to avoid other investigations such as CT scans which give less information. Definitions for response to a specific therapy and also progression according to CA 125 criteria are given and require prospective testing.