Elevated tumour marker CA125: Interpretations in clinical practice

Tumour markers are recommended in clinical practice for monitoring and prognosis of several malignant conditions. However, they are also being routinely used for the purpose of diagnosis and screening, leading often, to a dilemma in clinical interpretations and therapeutic interventions. CA125 is one such marker, which is known to be elevated in non-mucinous epithelial ovarian carcinoma. However, it is also increased in physiological conditions like pregnancy and menstruation, as also other benign and inflammatory conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, liver disease, kidney disease and heart failure. An elevated CA125 therefore needs to be evaluated with judicious and astute clinical acumen particularly in women of the reproductive age group, to prevent them from being subjected to unnecessary exploratory interventions and severe psychological trauma.