C. Miret et al., LACK OF CORRELATION BETWEEN TUMOR-MARKERS (CA-125 AND SCC) AND SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS ACTIVITY, Anticancer research, 18(2B), 1998, pp. 1341-1344
Background. Recently, tumor markers (CA 125 and SCC) have been suggest
ed as possible activity markers of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
bur study results have been contradictory. Objective: The aim of this
study was to evaluate the possible relationship between CA 125 and SC
C serum levels and SLE activity. Patients and Methods: Serum levels of
CA 125 from 59 patients and levels of SCC from 53 patients with SLE w
ere analyzed. Both tumor markers were determined by ELISA, considering
35 U/ml (CA 125) and 2.5 ng/ml (SCC) respectively as the upper limit
of normality. The serum levels of these tumor markers were correlated
with the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Results: The CA 125 conc
entrations in active SLE (mean 13.8 + 15.3) were similar to those in i
nactive patients (mean 13.1 + 11.7 U/ml) Significantly high CA 125 ser
um levels were found only in SLE patients with nephrotic syndrome (p=0
.001). No significant diferences were found in SCC serum levels in SLE
patients with (mean 0.9+/-0.8 ng/ml) or without activity (mean 1.1+/-
1.3 ng/ml). Likewise, no relationship between SCC serum levels and par
ameters related to SLE activity were found excluding slight increases
associated with renal failure. Conclusions: The correlation that some
authors have found betwen elevated serum levels of CA 125 and SLE acti
vity is only associated with the presence of nephrotic syndrome. Likew
ise, SCC is not related with SLE activity and the increases found may
be due to renal failure.