HUMAN SEMINAL PLASMA ANALYSIS OF 5 TUMOR-MARKERS - CA-125, ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN, CA-50, CA-19.9, AND CA-195

Objective-To evaluate tumor markers in seminal plasma and their possib le relationship with fertility. Methods-Five different tumor markers ( alpha-fetoprotein, CA 125, CA 19.9, CA 50, and CA 195) were studied in seminal plasma and serum from 42 males (14 volunteers from semen dona tion and 28 males from infertile couples). Results-CA 50 and CA 19.9 l evels were more than 300 times as high in seminal plasma as in serum ( 4,396.4 U/mL vs. 13.9 and 3,893.5 U/mL vs. 11.5). CA 125 levels were 1 4 times as high in seminal fluid as in serum (217.2 U/mL vs. 15.1), an d CA 195 levels 22 times as high (122.5 U/mL vs. 5.6). alpha-Fetoprote in levels in seminal plasma were one-third those in serum (0.75 ng/mL vs. 2.47). Seminal levels of CA 125, CA 50, and CA 19.9 were correlate d with the duration of infertility. Compared with donors, among semina l fluids from infertile couples there was a trend to higher levels of CA 19.9 and CA 125. CA 125 levels were lower in samples having normal sperm counts, and CA 125 and CA 19.9 levels were lower among couples w ho conceived compared with those who did not conceive. Tumor markers, either in seminal plasma or in serum, were not found to be correlated with semen characteristics. Conclusions-It appears that: seminal level s of the tumor markers studied depend on more factors than the single serum concentration. The biological significance of the high seminal l evels of the four carbohydrate antigens, and the association of low le vels of CA 125 and CA 19.9 and fertility, could not be determined from our study. It is suggested, however, that CA 125 and CA 19.9 could be used as seminal plasma markers of fertility.