The prognostic significance of pre- and post-treatment CA-125 in grade 1 serous ovarian carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study

Amanda Nickles Fader, James Java, Thomas C. Krivak, Robert E. Bristow, Ana I. Tergas, Michael A. Bookman, Deborah K. Armstrong, Edward J. Tanner, David M. Gershenson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives The study objective was to determine the prognostic significance of serum CA-125 levels in patients with grade 1 serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC) enrolled in a Phase III study. Methods An ancillary analysis of a phase III study of women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel versus triplet or sequential doublet regimens. Grade 1 SOC was used as a surrogate for low-grade serous carcinoma. Results Among 3686 enrolled patients, 184 (5%) had grade 1 disease and CA-125 levels available. For those with grade 1 SOC, the median patient age was 56.5; 87.3% had Stage III disease. Median follow-up was 102 months and there was no difference in pre-chemotherapy CA-125 by treatment arm (P = 0.91). Median pretreatment CA-125 for those with grade 1 SOC was lower (119.1) than for patients with grade 2-3 SOC (246.7; P < 0.001). In those with grade 1, pretreatment CA-125 was not prognostic of outcome. However, patients with CA-125 levels that normalized after cycle 1, 2 or 3 were 60-64% less likely to experience disease progression as compared to those who never normalized or normalized after 4 cycles (P ≤ 0.024). Normalization of CA-125 levels before the second cycle was negatively associated with death, with a HR of 0.45 (P = 0.025). Conclusions Pretreatment CA-125 level was significantly lower in women with grade 1 SOC compared to those with high-grade SOC. While pretreatment CA-125 was not associated with survival, serial CA-125 measurements during chemotherapy treatment were prognostic, with normalization before the second chemotherapy cycle associated with a decreased risk of death.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)560-565
Number of pages6
JournalGynecologic oncology
Volume132
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2014

Keywords

  • CA-125
  • Low grade serous carcinoma
  • Ovarian cancer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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