TYPE-I AND TYPE-III PROCOLLAGEN METABOLITES AND CA 125 IN EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CANCER

The clinical courses of 24 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian c ancer were monitored with serial serum CA125, PIIINP and PICP determin ations before, during and after treatment. Initial serum CA125, PIIINP and PICP concentrations were pathologic in 93%, 80% and 11% of the ca ses, respectively. Eight patients responded to therapy with complete r emission and 16 patients died of the malignancy. Initial serum PIIINP concentration, but not that of CA125 or PICP, was significantly lower in responders than in nonresponders. The pathologic serum CA125 and PI IINP levels of the responders decreased to normal within two months, w hereas in patients with a poor prognosis they remained elevated. Serum CA 125 and PIIINP responded to progression with an increase and to re mission with a decrease. The changes in the serum PICP concentration t ook place predominantly within the reference interval. In seven patien ts with progressive malignancy, it increased to a pathologic level dur ing the final stage of the disease. Our results indicate that extensiv e ovarian malignancy strongly affects the metabolism of type I and typ e III collagens. The PIIINP assay is clinically useful. PIIINP and PIC P determinations also have potential to increase our understanding of the mechanisms of invasion and spread of malignant tumours.