The CA-125 Cancer Screening Procedure

The CA-125 or cancer antigen 125 is believed to be a protein present on the cell surfaces of several ovarian cancer cells. The CA-125 are noticeable in several other forms of cancer and are known to be present in miniscule proportions in regular tissue.

The CA-125 testing procedure employed as a tumour indicator determines the quantity of the CA-125 protein in the blood that aids in detecting the presence of particular kinds of cancer.

Usually, CA-125 screening is carried out to find out if the ovarian cancer treatment is going at par or to check if there is a relapse of ovarian cancer. This test is also employed to find whether the ovary is the prime area of cancer present in the woman. An inflated or greater than normal CA-125 screening outcome could indicate that the ovary is the key location of the cancer. Increased levels of the CA-125 test also means that cancer has been detected at other locations known as metastatic cancer. The CA-125 screening is not advised at such a stage, yet this test along with an ultrasound scan may be advised to women in the high risk bracket like those with strong family past of the disease or in those women that have displayed particular alterations or mutations in their DNA, for instance, the BRCA1 mutation for breast cancer.

For the CA-125 screening a blood sample is drawn intravenously and sent for further analysis. Those that have problems with clotting or are consuming blood thinning medications like aspirin and warfarin (Coumadin) must furnish this information prior to the blood being taken.

The outcome of the CA-125 test is considered normal if the result is less than 35 units per ML or less than 35 kilo units per liter (SI units). These normal values seem to fluctuate depending on the lab the test is carried out.

Other factors that lead to elevated CA-125 values are the presence of conditions like Endometriosis, Uterine fibroids, liver ailments like hepatitis or cirrhosis, Pancreatitis, Lupus, PID or Pelvic Inflammatory disease, the preliminary months of pregnancy, particular days of the menstrual cycle.

The cancer forms that lead to increased CA-125 levels are ovarian, fallopian tubes or endometrial cancer. Certain women that are palpated with an ovarian cancer lump in the pelvis are known to have more than 65 U/ML levels of CA-125. Cancers that have proliferated to the pancreas, stomach lining or peritoneum inclusive of lymphoma, esophagus, liver, colon, lungs and breast are known to cause a surge in CA-125levels. Abdominal cancer normally takes place alongside fluid accumulation in the abdomen known as ascites.

The outcome of CA-125 testing could be affected due to certain medications consumed for cancer, a lately done radioactive or bone scanning procedure. Those that have undergone surgery of the belly area must undertake the CA-125 test only after three weeks.

This test does not have the capacity to differentiate among malignant or non-cancer ovarian lumps. The test can be carried out even on the body fluids drawn from the abdomen or chest part. An increase in CA-125 levels in those women having undergone treatment for ovarian cancer indicates a possible relapse.

Ingoing research is being carried out to check the effectually of this testing for early ovarian cancer detection.

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