Prechemotherapy serum CA125 level as a predictor of survival outcome in epithelial carcinoma of the ovary.

A total of 55 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were followed for a minimum period of 2 years. Of these 22 patients had a prechemotherapy serum CA125 level of less than 50 ku/l and 33 patients had a serum CA125 level of greater than or equal to 50 ku/l. The 5-year actuarial survival of the two groups were 75% and 10% respectively. Prechemotherapy CA125 level taken 4 weeks after debulking surgery may predict the eventual survival outcome in epithelial ovarian cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy treatment.