Urinary gonadotropin fragment, a new tumor marker. IV. Use in endometrial cancers and uterine mixed mullerian tumors.

The use of urinary gonadotropin fragment (UGF) and CA-125 measurements was examined in the diagnosis and management of endometrial cancers and uterine mixed mullerian tumors. Using a cutoff of 3 fmole/ml for UGF, 37 of 63 (59%) patients with active cancer and 4 of 78 (5%) women with no evidence of disease after successful treatment had elevated levels of UGF. Similar results were obtained for CA-125 (cutoff greater than or equal to 35 U/ml) in the same patients, with elevated levels in 54% of patients with active disease and in 4% of patients with no evidence of disease. Sensitivities and mean values of UGF and CA-125 increased significantly with advancing stage and histologic grade of differentiation. Compared to patients with intrauterine disease only, patients with extra-uterine disease had a significant positivity rate and increased mean values for each tumor marker. The presence of lymph node metastases and levels of UGF showed a significant correlation; there was a significant relationship between CA-125 levels and positive cytology of peritoneal washing. Levels of UGF and CA-125 reflected the clinical courses of disease during therapy. During this study period, 85% of tumor recurrences could be anticipated before the clinical manifestation by elevated UGF and CA-125 levels. All patients who died of advanced or recurrent cancers had elevated levels of UGF and CA-125 before death and the mean values of both markers in these patients were significantly higher than those of both markers in the alive group.