Ca 125 - tumor marker: what it shows and what is the norm

Home > Encyclopedia of Oncology > Tumor marker CA 125: norm and interpretation of indicators

Thanks to innovative technologies, doctors have the opportunity to diagnose many diseases at the initial stage of development. Scientists have achieved particularly great success in cancer research, developing methods for identifying signs of pathology using blood tests. When identifying cancer in the ovaries, the most informative is the tumor marker Ca 125. An increase in this glycoprotein may indicate a cell mutation, but there are other diseases in which there is a deviation from the norm. You can understand what the analysis shows, how decoding is carried out and what is considered an increase in the norm by reading our article.

Important! The accuracy and reliability of the study largely depends on where and how the woman will donate blood for the Ca 125 tumor marker. Israeli clinics are considered the best, one of them is Assuta.

Some people believe that spending money on biochemical studies if a tumor is suspected is inappropriate, especially if there are no obvious symptoms. But in reality, a timely analysis with competent decoding can save your or a family member’s life. At the initial stage of cancer, it is much easier to cope with it, and the recovery period takes significantly less time. Having discovered that the indicators are elevated, the doctor will promptly prescribe additional tests and select an individual treatment program. Therefore, you should not delay contacting the diagnostic center.

Key Features

Like other tumor markers, Ca 125 belongs to the category of waste products of tumors; it has certain normal indicators and reasons for its increase.
It is produced in the ovarian epithelium under the influence of external and internal factors. In approximately half of the cases, inflated numbers are observed in patients at stage 1; at stages 2-3, a similar phenomenon is identified in 80 percent of patients.

In the female body, the antigen is also present in mucinous and serous fluid, the uterus and endometrial tissues. But from there (with rare exceptions) they do not penetrate into the bloodstream, which gives doctors reason to suspect oncological pathology. The aggressiveness of the tumor and the scale of the disease are indicated by how much greater the increase is; for example, sometimes doctors record a deviation from the norm of 2 times, and sometimes 100 times.

Attention! There is no one hundred percent guarantee of the presence of a tumor if decoding reveals that the tumor marker Ca 125 is elevated. However, it is still worth submitting biomaterial, otherwise there is a risk of missing pathology.

What does the specific tumor marker Ca 125 show? When taking the test, it is possible to identify the amount of antigen in the patient’s blood plasma, thanks to which it is possible to understand whether there is reason to suspect ovarian cancer in a woman or whether the problem is something else. The study is done using a chemiluminescent immunoassay with an analytical sensitivity of 2 to 120 thousand units per milliliter. Only blood from a vein is studied, from which serum is isolated - the biomaterial must be stored in a vacuum container at temperatures from two to eight degrees Celsius (maximum storage period is 1 day).

Analysis data for the presence of a marker and deviations from the norm are used for a variety of tasks:

at risk of recurrent cancer;
as part of the initial examination of patients;
when a differential diagnosis is required;
in the prevention of cancer pathologies;
to determine the effectiveness of chemotherapy - a study is prescribed before the start of the treatment course and after its completion;
to give the patient an objective prognosis for the future.

Consult an Israeli specialist

Acceptable indicators

Pathological processes in blood tests are indicated by an increase in a certain concentration of antigen. A level of 10 to 35 units per milliliter is considered normal, and if a girl with an ovarian cyst is being examined, then the acceptable limit is 60 units per milliliter.

Attention! The biomaterial of not only women, but also men (if indicated) is analyzed. For them, the norm is from zero to 10 units/ml.

If you receive results according to which the Ca 125 tumor marker is higher than normal, then there is a possibility of a malignant or benign tumor developing in the ovaries. However, there are other prerequisites for an increase - only a doctor can determine for sure whether you have cancer or another disease.

Important! It is very rare, but it happens that when cancer develops, the numbers remain normal. This happens if the mutated cells do not produce enough antigen for laboratory diagnosis.

Norm SA-125

In the absence of pathologies in women, as a result of a blood test, the concentration of the tumor marker CA 125 should not exceed the normal value of 10 to 15 U/ml. An important point is that if the concentration of CA-125 is in the range from 15 to 35 units, then there is nothing to worry about, since data of 35 units is the borderline value of the permissible norm and does not indicate any problem.

The normal value of the tumor marker CA 125 will be considered any indicator of the element that does not exceed a value of 35 U/ml.

Of course, an increase in tumor marker does not always indicate the presence of ovarian cancer. An increase in concentration can be observed in various situations, for example, during menstruation or when carrying a baby in the early stages.

The results of the study may be false positive under other circumstances:

In the presence of any inflammatory process in the reproductive and reproductive systems.
In the presence of peritonitis, when inflammation is localized in the abdominal cavity.
In the presence of pleurisy, which is a mild disease, inflammation of their serous membrane.
For severe kidney disease.
For endometriosis.
In the presence of autoimmune diseases.
For infectious lesions of the genital organs.
If there is a cyst in the cavity of one or both ovaries.

It is impossible to make a diagnosis solely on the basis of a study of CA 125 levels. If an increase in concentration is detected, an additional detailed examination should be performed to accurately determine the cause of such a violation.

Indications for the study

The examination is mandatory for:

those who live in areas with poor ecology;
women who work at industrial facilities;
girls with an unfavorable family history;
cancer patients with already diagnosed ovarian tumors or cysts;
those who gave birth to their first child after 35 years of age;
representatives of the fairer sex who started their periods early;
have undergone hormonal therapy;
recovered from cancer of the reproductive organs.

Attention! If there is more than one risk factor, patients without elevated Ca 125 may be prescribed additional tests, for example, an analysis for the HE 4 tumor marker.

The results may be false positive, which is not evidence of poor health. This happens if the cause of high rates is other diseases (pleurisy, endometriosis, etc.). It is easier to treat a pathology that is detected and diagnosed in time, so you should not hesitate to see a doctor and donate blood.

How to prepare for the procedure?

The results are largely influenced by when the test for the tumor marker of ovarian cancer Ca 125 will be taken and in what condition the body of the person being studied will be. Basic recommendations for preparation:

It is advisable that the blood be drawn before 12 noon.
Before the test you need to not eat for 5-8 hours.
For three days, you should eliminate everything fatty, spicy, fried, and alcoholic beverages from your diet.
You should not actively exercise in the gym the day before.
If you are nervous about donating blood from a vein, sit for ten minutes before you start to calm down.
You must give up cigarettes on the day of the test.
Calculate in advance on what day of the cycle the biomaterial is taken (this may affect the decoding).
To ensure reliable results, you need to stop taking medications (this issue is discussed in advance with your doctor).

Women and men who have been prescribed such an analysis are faced with the question of not only how to donate blood for the Ca 125 tumor marker in order to determine the presence of abnormalities, but also where to do it. In post-Soviet countries, conducting research is associated with a number of risks:

lack of information among patients regarding preparation;
incorrect decoding due to low qualifications of laboratory staff;
non-compliance with the rules for storing biomaterial;
outdated equipment.

According to reviews and expert opinion, it is in Israel that the most innovative equipment is used, and some of the best diagnosticians and specialists in the treatment of oncological diseases in the world work. If you are interested in receiving an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible, then you should definitely think about undergoing research abroad. Moreover, now it is not difficult to organize a trip - just contact the special department of the clinic that serves foreign patients.

Preparing for analysis

To conduct the study, venous blood is needed, or rather, its plasma, which is previously purified from other blood elements. The procedure for collecting blood is standard and is carried out in the usual way from the ulnar vein when it is compressed in the middle part of the shoulder with a special tourniquet.

In order for the results of the study on the CA 125 tumor marker to be reliable and as informative as possible, you should properly prepare for the blood sampling procedure.

Rules for preparing for analysis:

Blood should be donated in the early morning hours, with the optimal time being from 7 to 11 am. It is important to come to the procedure with some time to spare in order to be able to sit a little quietly and take a break from climbing stairs, walking and other moments, and also bring your emotions back to normal.
Blood sampling must be carried out on an empty stomach, so the last food intake on the day before the procedure should be no later than 6 pm. It is very important that at least 8 to 10 hours pass between the last snack and the time of the procedure.
On the day before the procedure, it is recommended to drink only water, excluding other drinks, especially carbonated lemonade, as well as coffee and tea, as they may affect the results of the study.
Smoking, as well as drinking any drinks containing alcohol, should be avoided at least 3 days before the procedure.

It is important to remember that some foods can affect the concentration of CA125, as well as the level of many other blood elements, so you should exclude fried, fatty, spicy, salty and sweet foods from your diet the day before the test.
Some medications may also have an effect, so if you are taking any medications, you should consult your doctor about the possibility of temporarily stopping them or continuing to take them.
Physical activity should also be limited several days before the scheduled procedure, since stress can change the composition of the blood and the concentration of many of its indicators.
It is important to exclude at least a week before blood sampling and various medical procedures, such as x-rays, ultrasound, MRI, CT and other diagnostic methods, as well as massage.

Decryption rules

One of the conditions for a competent diagnosis is professional interpretation of the results. Even knowing the indicators are normal, a non-specialist will not be able to understand whether an excess is evidence of cancer or there is reason to suspect another ailment. When assessing, the doctor uses data obtained through clinical and instrumental diagnostic procedures, and is also guided by the following basic principles:

if the numbers are up to 30 units/ml, there are no oncological symptoms and risk factors, then there is no cause for concern;
with values ranging from 35 to 60 units/ml, most often we are talking about the presence of a cyst;
a manifestation of cell mutation is the amount of protein more than 100 units/ml.

Interesting! Israeli clinics use a comprehensive approach to examining patients, achieving 93% accuracy in detecting cancer at the initial stage.

What else does the tumor marker Ca 125 mean if it is outside the normal range? Excess occurs in oncopathologies of the breast, lungs, fallopian tubes, liver, endometrium and pancreas. Naturally, before making a verdict, the doctor will prescribe a number of additional studies to confirm the diagnosis and begin to develop the most successful treatment regimen.

What does CA 125 mean?

The blood element CA-125 is a specific tumor marker that allows doctors to diagnose ovarian cancer with high accuracy. With the help of such a study, the disease can be detected at an early stage.

The tumor marker CA 125 is a very complex combination of a polysaccharide and a protein, and although, in fact, it is a special antigen of the epithelium of a certain category (fetal tissue).

Normally, tumor marker 125 may be present:

In the uterine cavity, in particular, in the composition of serous and mucinous fluid, and in the endometrium (in its unchanged tissues), but with the normal preservation of natural biological barriers, the element never penetrates into the blood, and therefore cannot be determined in it during research .
A certain amount of this element is produced by the lining of the (mesothelial) peritoneum, as well as the pleura, epithelium of the bronchi, pericardium, intestines, testes, gall bladder, fallopian tubes, kidneys, stomach and pancreas. However, the synthesis of CA 125 by the membranes of these organs is minimal.

An important point is that in women during pregnancy, especially in the first third of the period, there is usually an upward deviation in the values of the CA125 tumor marker. The discriminatory level of the substance may also be increased during menstruation.

It is important that the collected blood is delivered to the laboratory for testing no later than 1.5 hours after its collection, and the tube must be stored in a special box where the temperature is maintained no higher than 8°C.

CA 125 plays an important role in the body, since its concentration in the blood is diagnostic. Further in the article you will learn what a blood test for CA 125 means, who needs to undergo such a test and how to properly prepare for it, you will find a breakdown of the results of the tumor marker test and what diseases are indicated by the deviation of the obtained values from the established norms.

Another interpretation

There are a number of factors that can affect the results of a blood test.
The protein content may change during pregnancy and menopause, during menstruation, or during a recent ultrasound or x-ray. You also cannot completely trust the indicators if the patient did not follow the preparation recommendations, for example, drank alcohol, smoked or ate before coming to the clinic. Taking medications is also important. Those who take medications regularly need to inform the oncologist in advance so that there is no confusion when deciphering. Increased numbers can be not only with ovarian tumors, but also with other diseases, for example:

pericarditis, peritonitis and other inflammatory pathologies affecting the serous membranes;
cyst developing in the endometrium;
active metastasis of cancer of other organs.

Women should not be afraid of oncology ahead of time; moreover, even if a malignant neoplasm is diagnosed, at the first stage it is possible to overcome the disease with the help of advanced treatment methods in almost 100% of cases. The main thing is not to put off diagnosis until later and contact a reliable medical center!