TUMOR-TISSUE CA125 IN OVARIAN-CARCINOMA PATIENTS WITH NORMAL SERUM LEVELS

A good correlation between elevated serum CA125 and its immunolocaliza tion in ovarian tumor tissue has been reported. This study was underta ken in order to assess the presence of CA125 in tumor tissue obtained from ovarian carcinoma patients with normal serum levels. Eleven such ovarian carcinoma patients (nine of them serous) were identified. In s even the level was normal prior to the initial operation, and in four, prior to a positive second-look operation. Immunohistochemical staini ng of paraffin sections for CA125 was positive in seven of the tumor t issue samples. Tumor tissue of most ovarian carcinoma patients with a preoperative normal serum CA125 contains the antigen, but an undetermi ned mechanism prevents elevated serum levels.