TUMOR-ASSOCIATED ANTIGENS CEA, CA125, SCC AND TPS IN GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER

Pretreatment values of CEA, CA125, SCC and TPS were measured in 130 wo men with 1) ovarian carcinoma (n=25), 2) breast cancer (n=20), 3) endo metrial cancer (n=14), 4) cervical squamous cell carcinoma (n=20), 5) cervical adenocarcinoma (n=9) and 6) benign gynaecological diseases (n =42) in order to evaluate the usefulness of multiple markers in diagno sing and monitoring patients with gynaecological cancer. Antigen value s were significantly higher in the cancer groups than those in the ben ign one (p<0.0001). CEA values were significantly elevated in the 2nd and 5th groups, CA125 in the 1st and 5th, SCC in the 4th and 5th, and TPS in the 1st, 2nd and 5th compared to the remaining groups (p<0.04-p <0.0001). In advanced stage diseases, significantly higher antigen val ues, except for SCC, than those in limited tumours were measured (p<0. 05-p<0.0001). In conclusion, our results suggest that, multiple marker s may be more efficienti than the use of single markers in accurately identifying malignant from benign gynaecological diseases and in monit oring cancer patients.