Bălăceanu Lavinia Alice, Grigore Cristiana, Dina Ion, Gurău Cristian-Dorin, Mihai Mara Mădălina, Bălăceanu-Gurău Beatrice
Department of Medical Semiology, "Sf. Ioan" Clinical Emergency Hospital, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania.
Internal Medicine Clinic, "Sf. Ioan" Clinical Emergency Hospital, 042122 Bucharest, Romania.
J Clin Med. 2025 Jun 11;14(12):4152. doi: 10.3390/jcm14124152.
Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is a glycoprotein commonly overexpressed in epithelial ovarian cancer and widely recognized as a tumor marker. However, elevated CA125 levels are also observed in various non-malignant conditions, including diseases affecting mucosal surfaces, pleural or peritoneal effusions, cirrhosis (with or without ascites), endometriosis, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and pregnancy. This review aims to explore the role of CA125 in non-malignant serous effusions, highlighting its diagnostic and prognostic potential beyond the realm of oncology. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases and clinical trial registries. Eligible studies included full-text original research articles, reviews, and case reports published in English over the past 10 years. Inclusion criteria were limited to studies involving human subjects and focused on the role of CA125 in non-malignant serous effusions. CA125 is produced by coelomic epithelial cells lining the ovary, pleura, pericardium, and peritoneum. Its serum concentration is not significantly influenced by age, body weight, or renal function, even in the advanced stages of the disease. In peritoneal conditions, CA125 is synthesized by mesothelial cells and serves as a potential marker of peritoneal involvement. The prevailing pathophysiological mechanism suggests that mechanical stretching of mesothelial cells due to ascitic pressure stimulates CA125 release. Similarly, in heart failure, mesothelial cells of the pericardium produce CA125, which correlates with congestion severity, supports risk stratification, and may inform diuretic therapy. While a threshold of 35 U/mL is established for malignancy, no standardized cutoff exists for CA125 in non-malignant conditions. The utility of CA125 measurement in peritoneal, pleural, or pericardial effusions-and cardiovascular diseases such as acute heart failure-for purposes of differential diagnosis, treatment guidance, or prognostication warrants further investigation through prospective clinical trials.
糖类抗原125(CA125)是一种糖蛋白,在上皮性卵巢癌中通常过度表达,被广泛认为是一种肿瘤标志物。然而,在各种非恶性疾病中也观察到CA125水平升高,包括影响粘膜表面的疾病、胸腔或腹腔积液、肝硬化(伴或不伴腹水)、子宫内膜异位症、子宫肌瘤、子宫腺肌病、盆腔炎和妊娠。本综述旨在探讨CA125在非恶性浆液性积液中的作用,突出其在肿瘤学领域之外的诊断和预后潜力。我们在多个数据库和临床试验注册中心进行了全面的文献检索。符合条件的研究包括过去10年以英文发表的全文原始研究文章、综述和病例报告。纳入标准仅限于涉及人类受试者且关注CA125在非恶性浆液性积液中作用的研究。CA125由卵巢、胸膜、心包和腹膜的体腔上皮细胞产生。即使在疾病晚期,其血清浓度也不受年龄、体重或肾功能的显著影响。在腹膜疾病中,CA125由间皮细胞合成,是腹膜受累的潜在标志物。普遍的病理生理机制表明,腹水压力导致的间皮细胞机械拉伸刺激CA125释放。同样,在心力衰竭中,心包间皮细胞产生CA125,其与充血严重程度相关,支持风险分层,并可能为利尿治疗提供依据。虽然恶性肿瘤的CA125阈值设定为35 U/mL,但在非恶性疾病中尚无CA125的标准化临界值。CA125检测在腹膜、胸膜或心包积液以及急性心力衰竭等心血管疾病中的鉴别诊断、治疗指导或预后评估方面的效用,值得通过前瞻性临床试验进一步研究。