Abstract
Serum CA125 levels in 33 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were studied and compared with serum levels of AFP, CA19-9 and CEA. Mean (±SEM) serum CA125 levels and positivity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were 406±97U/ml and 75%, and significantly higher than those in liver cirrhosis. Elevation of CA125 was found in patients with ascites, and/or with advanced disease stage. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of CA125 in hepatocellular carcinoma were not different from those of AFP, but significantly higher than those of CA19-9 and CEA. However, in the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma without ascites, those of CA125 were significantly lower than those of AFP.
We conclude that serum CA125 is useful in diagnosing the stage of hepatocellular carcinoma.
