Ovarian cancer is also known as the “silent killer” When symptoms of ovarian cancer are suspected, blood tests and imaging tests may be carried out. CA125 values are often used as indicators for blood tests. However, CA125 cannot be used as a screening test for ovarian cancer, a screening tool. However, once ovarian cancer is diagnosed, CA125 plays an important role in post-operative follow-up and treatment.
What is CA125? Tong Baoling, Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hsinchu Branch of the National Taiwan University Hospital, noted that CA125 (cancer antigen 125) is a glycoprotein secreted on the mucosal wall in the abdominal cavity When the mucosa is inflamed, the CA125 will value increases.
Not just ovarian cancer, CA125 values are raised in many cases. For example, Dr.
In addition to CA125, HE4 (human epididymis protein 4) is another indicator for ovarian cancer screening. The US FDA stated in 2008 that HE4 can be used as a tool for ovarian cancer screening. Compared to CA125, HE4 is less affected by endometriosis, such as chocolate cysts. However, due to the high price of HE4 index detection, CA125 is still the most common clinical application at present.
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CA125 Difficult to Screen for Early Ovarian Cancer
He reminded Dr. Tong Baoling, if people meet ovarian cancer risk factors or have a family history of ovarian cancer, it is recommended to take a blood test to test the value of CA125. However, he noted, “Most ovarian cancers are already in the third stage when they are discovered. There is literature that indicates, If the detection of CA125 is performed in the first stage of ovarian cancer, only a quarter of the patients will have a high CA125 index, therefore, most early stage ovarian cancer cannot be detected by detecting CA125.”
To increase the screening rate of ovarian cancer, in addition to blood tests, ultrasound is a useful tool. Note whether the shape of the ovaries is abnormal through a pelvic or vaginal ultrasound, but there is no need to worry too much when the ultrasound detects abnormalities in the ovaries.
Dr. shared. Tong Baoling that it is clinical that menopausal patients often have hydroma on the ovaries during ultrasound, but CA125 is normal. Generally, this kind of situation is not a serious problem, so don’t worry too much.
CA125 plays an important role in tracking ovarian cancer after surgery
And if ovarian tumors are found during childbearing age, usually 90% of them are functional ovarian tumors, which will occur when ovulation is not good. However, functional ovarian tumors disappear on their own within three months. The remaining 10% of ovarian tumors may be chocolate cysts and teratomas, of which cancer accounts for only a small proportion.
Regarding the standard value of CA125, in general the normal value of CA125 should be less than 35 U/ml. However, ovulation stops during menopause, so there is no possibility of functional ovarian cancer, and the CA125 value standard can be set at 20 U/ml. However, Director Tong Baoling emphasized that CA-125 cannot be used as an absolute cancer indicator. The greatest value of applying CA125 is that it plays an important role in tracking ovarian cancer after surgery and post-treatment!
He drew attention to the fact that when treating ovarian cancer, a change in the CA125 index can be used to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy and determine whether there is a possibility of recurrence. Ovarian cancer tends to recur, so it is recommended to follow up every three months, and early detection of signs of recurrence can take the time for treatment.
Expert interview: Tong Baoling, Director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Hsinchu Branch National Taiwan University Hospital
Text/Photo by Li Zhihan/Yang Shaochu
Further reading:
How is ovarian cancer checked? What are the inspection items? Check and diagnose the process at one time
Frequent constipation is caused by ovarian cancer!Medical appeal: “gene therapy” can solve the high recurring dilemma
The symptoms are like gastroenteritis! The Silent Female Killer “Ovarian Cancer”
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