Role of Ca125 Monitoring in Post Treatment Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Patients

Abstract

The role of routine CA125 monitoring after therapy in epithelial ovarian CA has been questioned after the results of the MRC OV-05/EORTC 55985 study have been published. However, the role of hormonal agents like Tamoxifen or Letrezole in the setting of asymptomatic rise in CA125 has not been addressed in this study, as the treatment group received second-line chemotherapy. The GOG has looked into the role of Tamoxifen and also compared it with other agents like Thalidomide. Tamoxifen seems to be better than Thalidomide in this setting. While the EORTC study compared chemotherapy versus no-treatment, the GOG study compared Tamoxifen versus Thalidomide. Thus the question of no-treatment versus Tamoxifen or chemotherapy versus Tamoxifen in this group of patients has not been addressed. Other agents tried include anti-angiogenic urokinase plasminogen inhibitor A6 and also the aromatase inhibitor Letrezole. Both have shown minimal activity and may be used to increase the progression-free interval in asymptomatic patients with a rising CA125. Normal CA125 levels may help reassure patients on follow-up especially those with non-specific symptoms, though all recurrences need not have an elevated CA125. Thus, CA125 monitoring may be useful as a marker to guide further investigations, for patient reassurance and for decision on initiating oral hormonal agents like Tamoxifen and Letrezole.

Keywords: Ca125, post treatment, harmonal agents, epithelial ovarian cancer, chemotherapy

Cite this Article

Vijaykumar DK. Role of Ca125 monitoring in post treatment epithelial ovarian cancer patients.Research and Reviews: Journal of Oncology and Hematology (RRJoOH). 2015; 4(2):   17–20p.