TUMOR-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS, CEA, CA-125 AND SCC IN SERUM AND FOLLICULAR-FLUID OF STIMULATED AND UNSTIMULATED CYCLES

Serum and follicular fluid levels of CEA, CA 125 and SCC of women part icipating in an IVF program, in 42 cycles stimulated with GnRH-a and g onadotropins and in 26 unstimulated cycles triggered with HCG, were ev aluated and compared with (a) steroid and gonadotropin levels, (b) the results of IVF, and (c) serum values in a control group of women with spontaneous normal ovulatory cycles. In the control group, serum anti gens did not vary significantly during the 3 phases of the cycle. In s timulated cycles the median values in serum were 0.7 ng/ml (range, 0.0 -2.1) for CEA, 14.0 U/ml (3.3-32.4) for CA 125 and 2.05 ng/ml (1.1-17. 8) for SCC, whereas the median values in follicular fluid were 0.6 (0. 0-27.9), 21.5 (0-670) and 21.4 (1-360), respectively. In unstimulated cycles the median values and ranges in serum were 0.9 (0.4-3.9), 12.1 (4.8-63.4) and 1.85 (0.7-4.4), respectively, whereas in follicular flu id they were 2.9 (0.4-180.7), 32 (1.7-600) and 231 (10.8-904). Differe nt follicles of the same patients in stimulated cycles showed a wide d ivergence for all three antigens. In unstimulated cycles all three ant igens in follicular fluid were strongly correlated and a significant i nverse correlation was observed between LH and both CA 125 and SCC in serum. In either group of cycles, no significant relationship was foun d between any serum or follicular fluid antigen and estradiol or testo sterone, pregnancy rate, or oocyte quality and fertilization. Thus, in both stimulated and unstimulated cycles follicular fluid contains CEA , CA 125 and SCC in considerable amounts while in serum only SCC was f ound elevated. It seems that no correlation exists between any of the three antigens and steroidogenesis or the results of the IVF-ET.