CA125-ANTIGEN LEVELS IN OBSTETRIC AND GYNECOLOGIC PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 64  (5) , 703-707
Abstract
An immunoradiometric assay using a monoclonal antibody detects an antigenic determinant (CA125) that is present in > 80% of epithelial ovarian cancers. CA125 levels are elevated in the sera of 16% of women in the 1st trimester of pregnancy and is found in very high concentration in amniotic fluid. In 988 nonpregnant patients with benign gynecologic disorders, CA125 was > 65 U/ml in 1% on a single determination and in 0.5% with 2 determinations. Given the low rate of positivity in benign gynecologic disease, the CA125 assay may deserve further evaluation for the early detection of ovarian carcinoma.