## CA-125 in Ovarian Cancer **Key Point:** CA-125 is the most commonly used tumor marker for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), elevated in >80% of advanced-stage cases and used for monitoring and recurrence detection. ### CA-125 in Ovarian Cancer: | Feature | Details | |---------|----------| | Elevation frequency | >80% in advanced EOC | | Normal cutoff | <35 U/mL | | Sensitivity (advanced) | 80–90% | | Specificity | 95% in high-risk populations | | Clinical use | Diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring | | Recurrence detection | Doubling time <6 months = poor prognosis | ### Why CA-125 is Most Common: - Produced by ovarian cancer cells and normal peritoneal cells - Elevated in >80% of stage III–IV EOC - Serial measurement guides chemotherapy efficacy - Rapid rise after normalization indicates recurrence - Integrated into FIGO staging and prognostic scoring **Clinical Pearl:** A rise in CA-125 during remission often precedes clinical recurrence by 3–6 months, making it valuable for surveillance. **High-Yield:** CA-125 is NOT specific to ovarian cancer (elevated in endometriosis, menstruation, other malignancies) but is the most common and most useful marker for EOC monitoring.
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