Predictive values of serum tumour markers tetranectin, OVX1, CASA and CA125 in patients with a pelvic mass

Our objective was to compare the predictive value of the well-established t umour marker CA125 with the newer tumour markers tetranectin (TN), OVXI and CASA in distinguishing benign and malignant pelvic masses in women. Partic ipants included 185 women, 19 years or older, with a pelvic mass planned fo r surgical exploration. Significantly different CA125 levels were found bet ween benign tumours and localised ovarian cancer (OC), advanced OC and othe r non-OCs. Significantly different TN levels were found between benign tumo urs and advanced OC (stage III/IV), between benign tumours and other cancer s and between all OCs and other cancers. For CASA, significant differences were found between benign tumours and all OCs as well as advanced OC. No si gnificant differences could be demonstrated for OVXI. Significant correlati ons for the 44 OC patients were found between CA125, TN and CASA. No signif icant correlations were found for OVXI, possibly because of the method used for collection and handling of serum samples. None of the new markers had any additional predictive value compared to CA125. TN and CASA levels corre lated with FIGO stage and could be used to discriminate between benign and advanced OC. However, in comparison to the performance of CA125, the additi onal discriminative value of TN and CASA was minor. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. O ncol.) 89:5 19-523, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.