Perioperative changes in serum CA125 levels: a prognostic factor for disease-specific survival in patients with ovarian cancer

open access

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the relationship between the postoperative decline in serum CA125 levels and the residual tumor volume after primary cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer, and to determine the value of perioperative changes in CA125 levels for predicting disease-specific survival.

(abstract) CONCLUSION:
The current study, although hampered by possible biases, suggests that the perioperative decline in serum CA125 is an early biomarker that predicts disease-specific survival in patients who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery for advanced stage EOC. If confirmed prospectively, the perioperative change in serum CA125 could be a better marker for residual tumor volume after primary cytoreductive surgery (and therewith disease-specific survival) than the surgeons' estimation of residual tumor volume.