2014-08-25 21:42 Source: Clove Garden Author: echo1166Sun Weili, Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer HospitalFont size-|+In postmenopausal female subjects who undergo annual pelvic ultrasound and CA-125 testing to screen for ovarian tumors, false-positive results are present in approximately 8% of patients. In this article, to determine whether abnormal CA-125 levels in postmenopausal women without ovarian tumors increase mortality in these female subjects, Terada KY et al. from the University of Hawaii conducted a study that was published in the August issue of Gynecol Oncol, a large multicenter, prospective study conducted by Gynecol Oncol. The PLCO study is a large, multicenter, prospective study that was conducted by the National Cancer Institute. A total of 78,000 healthy female subjects between the ages of 55 and 74 were enrolled in the study, and were randomized into two groups – one for screening and one for routine medical care – in order to assess the efficacy of screening in reducing the mortality rate caused by ovarian tumors. Female subjects in the screening group underwent annual screening programs for ovarian tumors, including transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 testing. The investigators recorded CA-125 levels in 38,818 subjects without ovarian tumors (at least once), and 1,201 subjects (3.09%) had at least one abnormal CA-125 level. The current study compared mortality in a population of subjects who did not have ovarian tumors but had at least one abnormal CA-125 level, and in a population of subjects who had all normal CA-125 levels. Survival Curves for Subjects with Normal and Abnormal CA-125 Levels In the PLCO Screening Study, subjects who had no ovarian tumors but had abnormal CA-125 levels (one or more times) had a significantly higher mortality rate compared to subjects who had all normal CA-125 screening levels. This increased risk persisted during follow-up. Analysis of the causes of death on the death certificates revealed that the main causes of death were lung tumors, gastrointestinal lesions, and endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases. The results of this study indicate that postmenopausal women with elevated CA-125 levels (without ovarian tumors) have an increased risk of premature death. Original article: Abnormal CA-125 levels in menopausal women without ovarian cancer.