SERUM TUMOR-MARKER IMMUNOASSAYS IN GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY - ESTABLISHMENT OF REFERENCE VALUES

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to establish reference values for six monoc lonal antibody-based serum immunoassays applied in patients with carci noma of the female genital tract. STUDY DESIGN: Sera from 938 healthy women (median age 48.0 years, range 37 to 76 years) were assayed for l evels of CA 125, CA 15.3 (two methods), CA M29, CA M26, and mucin-like cancer antigen (MCA). RESULTS: Reference values, defined as those inc luding 95% of healthy controls, were in women with unknown menopausal status as follows. CA 125, 37 U/ml; CA 15.3 (Centocor), 33 U/ml; CA 15 .3 (Boehringer Mannheim), 28 U/ml; CA M26, 83 U/ml; CA M29, 13 U/ml; a nd MCA, 19 U/ml. Postmenopausal values were significantly lower for CA 125 and CA M26 and significantly higher for CA M29 and CA 15.3 (both methods). MCA serum levels were age independent. CONCLUSION: Reference values found were not in accord with those generally applied in gynec ologic oncology. In addition, serum levels were influenced significant ly by menopausal status (except with MCA).