Objective: To determine whether a correlation between platelet count and CA-125 exists, and to compare the mean levels of CA-125 in groups with normal and elevated platelet counts.
Design: A retrospective analysis of the medical records concerning to 31 ovarian cancer inpatients, treated 1998-2002 with primary surgery and subsequent platinum-based chemotherapy at the Division of Gynecology, Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, University Medical School Poznań.
Materials and methods: 137 serum and whole blood samples collected from 31 ovarian cancer patients during their consecutive hospital stays.
Results: There was a positive, moderate (r = 0.49) and highly significant (p < 0.0000001) correlation between platelet count and CA-125 levels. Thrombocytosis occurred in 45% patients before treatment, and in none when the 6th course of chemotherapy was given. In the thrombocytosis group, an average CA-125 level (913.5 U/ml) was significantly higher (p < 0.00001) then in the group with normal platelet count (103.7 U/ml).
Conclusions: Platelet count and CA-125 levels do correlate in blood samples taken from ovarian cancer patients at the same time.