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CA 125
What is CA125?
CA125 is a substance which is found in very low levels in the human body and has become widely used as a tumor marker. Researchers have identified certain markers that correlate with the presence of particular types of cancers. CA125 found in women is most often associated with cancers of the reproductive tract including the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries but may also include cancer of the pancreas, lung, breast, and colon. It is important to note, however, that no individual tumor marker is conclusive for cancer. For example, CA125 can be elevated during menstruation, pregnancy, or in individuals with ovarian cysts, pericarditis, hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, endometriosis, or peritonitis, an infection of the lining of the abdomen.
How is CA125 used?
Since CA125 can be elevated in normal individuals and women with other disorders it is not generally recommended as a screening tool. Generally, once a cancer is diagnosed, CA125 levels may prove to be an effective indicator of the effectiveness of cancer treatment. A declining level may indicate an good response to treatment and a favorable prognosis. Persistently rising levels of CA125 may be associated with a growing tumor, presence of tumor on the peritoneum that lines the abdomen or a recurrence of a previously treated tumor.
Although CA125 levels often rise and fall in connection with cancer progression or regression and thus may offer some indication of the response of a tumor to therapy. In many patients with ovarian cancer the amount of CA125 in the blood is not related to tumor size and cannot serve as a guide to tumor response to different treatments. Furthermore, in all cases and with all types of tumors, normal CA125 levels do not necessarily rule out continued cancer growth, recurrence of cancer, or the presence of extensive disease.
How is CA125 measured?
CA125 levels are measured through analysis of a blood ample drawn in the same manner as other blood tests. Laboratory normal values @for a CA125 may vary but most labs use under 35u/ml as the norm. Some labs may use less than 45u/ml as their norm. If you have concerns about your CA125 please consult your health care provider. Generally, as has been suggested in some recent publications, CA125 does not have a good predictive value and is not used as a screening tool, as for instances mammograms are used to screen for breast cancer.
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