Metastasis of cervical cancer indicated by elevation of serum CA125 produced by mediastinal lymph nodes: a case report

J Med Case Rep. 2024 Feb 25;18(1):112. doi: 10.1186/s13256-024-04417-2.

Abstract

Background: In patient assessment for recurrence of neoplasia, a biomarker that shows an elevated serum value before the first treatment is a candidate for follow-up examination. The biomarker squamous cell carcinoma antigen is usually utilized for follow-up of squamous cell cancer of the cervix.

Case presentation: We herein report a 30-year-old Japanese woman of postoperative metastasis of cervical squamous cell cancer to the mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph nodes as indicated by an elevated serum cancer antigen 125 concentration and not by the squamous cell carcinoma antigen value. After chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy, the serum cancer antigen 125 concentration decreased to a normal value. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen was found to be distributed in both the squamous cell cancer tissue of the cervix and the supraclavicular lymph node metastatic tissue. By contrast, cancer antigen 125 was distributed in the supraclavicular lymph node metastatic tissue but not in the original squamous cell cancer tissue of the cervix.

Conclusion: In this case, metastasis of cervical cancer to the mediastinal and supraclavicular lymph nodes was shown by the biomarker cancer antigen 125, which was not present in the original neoplasia.

Keywords: Biomarker; CA125; Cervical cancer; Lymph nodes; SCCA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CA-125 Antigen
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / therapy

Substances

  • CA-125 Antigen