Objective: To analyze the association of serum CA(125) level at the different phases with recurrence and survival, for providing simple and efficient methods about predicting recurrence and prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.
Methods: The clinical-pathological data from 151 patients were collected, who were histologically confirmed as primary ovarian cancer between Jan 2002 and Dec 2005. All the patients were followed up. The relationship between serum CA(125) level at different phases and clinical-pathological data were analyzed, including prognostic associated factors, 2-year or 5-year recurrent rate, 5-year survival rate, progression-free survival times, and overall survival times.
Results: Serum CA(125) level at pre-surgery and the end of 3-course chemotherapy were associated with most of the clinical-pathological parameters, included stage, pathological grade, amount of ascites, residual tumor size, type of recurrence, 2-year and 5-year recurrent rate, and 5-year survival rate (all P < 0.05). Progression-free survival and overall survival times were shorter in the patients with higher CA(125) level at pre-surgery or abnormal CA(125) level at the end of 3-course chemotherapy (P < 0.01). There was no relationship between the ratio of CA(125) level at pre- and post-surgery and recurrence or prognosis (all P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Serum CA(125) level at pre-surgery and the end of 3-course chemotherapy can be used for predicting the recurrence and prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer.