SERUM TUMOR-MARKERS IN CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX AND OUTCOME FOLLOWING RADIOTHERAPY

A study was made of the prognostic value of measurements of pretreatme nt serum marker levels in patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervi x undergoing radiotherapy. The markers studied were carcinoma antigen 125 (CA125), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and tissue polypept ide antigen (TPA). The levels of all three markers increased with dise ase stage. In a univariate analysis stratifying patients according to either median values or cut-off levels representing the top of the nor mal range, pretreatment levels predicted patient survival (follow-up t imes 1-4 years). In a multivariate analysis, disease stage was the mos t important prognostic variable and, after allowing for stage, only CA 125 was a significant independent predictor of treatment outcome. Thes e data suggest that, in carcinoma of the cervix treated with radiother apy, pretreatment measurements of CA125, but not SCC and TPA, may have a role to play in defining prognosis.