CA19-9 tumor marker in comparison with CA125 in patients with gynecological diseases

Abstract

Background: Cancer of the ovary is not common, but it causes more deaths than other female reproductive cancers. Women with ovarian cancer may have no symptoms or just mild symptoms until the disease is in an advanced stage because it is hard to detect early. A diagnostic approach based on the use of CA 125 in association with ultrasonography has been suggested for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Objective: To compare the utility of CA 19-9 in comparison to CA 125, for risk stratification and diagnostic purposes in patients with gynaecological diseases. Patients and methods: A prospective study conducted in the period between November 2011 and January 2012, 90 blood samples (30 women with ovarian cancer, 30 polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) cases and 30 healthy control) were collected to investigate their CA125 and CA19-9 serum levels by using ELISA technique. Results: Serum CA125 were positive in (86.6%) of ovarian cancer patients, and slightly elevated in (33.3%) of PCOS patients. Serum CA19-9 were positive only in (66.6%) of ovarian cancer patients. The sensitivity of CA125 was (86.7%) while the specificity of CA19-9 was (96.7%). Conclusions: Serum CA125 and CA19-9 were significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients. The mean of the two markers were statistically higher among stage IV ovarian cancer patients as 104.09 and 94 (U/ml) for CA125 and CA19-9 respectively. Serum CA125 was more sensitive but less specific than CA19-9.