Objective: Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women worldwide, with nearly a quarter of a million women diagnosed every year. The serum tumor markers cancer antigens CA 125, CA 19-9, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are potentially of clinical value for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. A diagnostic tool that is noninvasive, simple to perform, and specific is needed to predict primary ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic sensivitity and specificity of vaginal-washing tumor markers CA 125, CA 19-9, and CEA for diagnosis of primary ovarian cancer.
Materials and methods: In the current prospective study, 30 patients with advanced primary ovarian cancer and 30 patients with benign ovarian cysts were enrolled. The vaginal-washing fluid samples were obtained the day before surgery and were immediately centrifuged and stored at -80 degrees C until analysis. Measurements of CA 125, CA 19-9, and CEA were determined using fully-automated chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays.
Results: The vaginal fluid concentrations of CA 125, CA 19-9, and CEA in patients with primary ovarian carcinoma were significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared to those in patients with benign adnexal masses (p < 0.001). In the ROC curve analysis, the optimal cut-off values for the detection of primary ovarian cancer were >295 for CA 125 (p < 0.001), > 101 for CA 19-9 (p < 0.001), and >135 for CEA (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Vaginal-washing tumor markers CA 125, CA 19-9, and CEA are simple, noninvasive, and reliable diagnostic tests for the detection of primary ovarian cancer.