Combined prognostic importance of CA 125, histopathologic grade and DNA-index in advanced ovarian cancer

Purpose: To analyse the possible prognostic importance of a combination of serum CA 125 levels. tumor cell DNA distribution and histopathologic grade in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Method: The study included 41 patients with ovarian cancer stages II-IV. CA 125 was measured before the start of chemotherapy and after every course. The DNA distribution was analysed by flow cytometry in biopsy specimens fro m the primary tumour. The histopathologic grading was performed according t o WHO criteria. Results: The CA 125 level was of major prognostic significance. All patient s with an abnormal value (> 35 U/ml) after three courses died within 16 mon ths. The DNA distribution did not add significant prognostic information, b ut the histopathologic grade was of significant prognostic importance as in vestigated by Cox analysis. Conclusion. CA 125 is an important prognostic marker in epithelial ovarian cancer. The value after three courses of chemotherapy is significant. The h istopathologic grade adds further prognostic information.