What is CA125? What Does CA125 High Mean?
CA125 is a tumor marker protein known as “Cancer Antigen 125” that increases in the body, especially in the presence of some types of cancer. This marker, which is associated with reproductive organ and ovarian cancer, especially in women, is one of the most important indicators used in the diagnosis and follow-up of ovarian cancer. But CA125 isn’t just associated with cancer. Different health problems can also cause this value to increase. Therefore, it is not used as a diagnostic tool alone, but it is very important to monitor the course of the disease and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment, especially in patients in risk groups.
What is CA125?
It is a glycoprotein found in many tissues of the body, produced by cells and absorbed into the blood. It is this biomarker that is used especially in detecting ovarian cancer. CA125 is normally found at low levels in the body. However, in some cases, especially in the presence of certain diseases, an increase in these levels is observed. Apart from ovarian cancer, various benign and malignant diseases can also affect CA125 levels. In healthy individuals, the CA125 level is usually below 35 U/mL. However, pathological conditions occurring in various parts of the body may cause this level to increase. Ovarian cancer is known as one of the diseases that increases the level of this protein the most. In addition to ovarian cancer, conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, liver cirrhosis, benign ovarian cysts, menstrual period, and even pregnancy can also cause an increase in CA125 levels. Therefore, CA125 alone is not sufficient for the diagnosis of cancer. It is important to remember that it should be evaluated together with other diagnostic methods in the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease.
Regular monitoring of protein levels, especially in high-risk groups such as people with a family history of ovarian cancer, offers the opportunity for intervention at an early stage. However, since CA125 elevation can occur due to various conditions, not every high value means cancer. Therefore, when evaluating this value, doctors consider the patient’s general health condition, medical history and the results of other diagnostic tests.
What Should the CA125 Value Be?
Values are usually measured in international units (U/mL). In healthy people, this value is below 35 U/mL. However, this limit value may vary depending on the patient’s health status, age and other individual factors. An increase in the CA125 level above 35 U/mL may indicate an abnormal condition in the body. High CA125 levels are evaluated more carefully, especially in postmenopausal women. In this case, other factors that may cause CA125 elevation are investigated through detailed examinations. These values are very important in terms of observing the changes during the treatment process and the course of the disease.
What Does CA125 High Mean?
It may indicate the presence of various conditions in the body. Although the increase of this marker is mostly associated with ovarian cancer, it can also indicate many different pathological and physiological conditions. Therefore, CA125 elevation alone is not sufficient to confirm the presence of cancer. Doctors perform a comprehensive evaluation to determine the cause behind elevated CA125. This evaluation is considered along with the patient’s general health condition, medical history, and the results of other diagnostic tests. CA125 elevation can be seen in the following situations:
Ovarian Cancer:
Ovarian cancer is one of the most important causes of increased CA125 level. The level of this marker can be quite high, especially in advanced-stage ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumor that develops in the ovaries, one of the female reproductive organs. Since this cancer does not show any symptoms in its early stage, diagnosis is difficult. At this point, the CA125 test plays an important role in early diagnosis and treatment follow-up, especially in women with a family history of ovarian cancer and at high risk.
endometriosis
It is a condition where the endometrial tissue, which forms the inner layer of the uterus, is located outside the uterus. The presence of this tissue outside the uterus can lead to increased CA125 levels. Endometriosis is a common condition in women of reproductive age. It can often cause problems such as pain during menstrual periods, discomfort in the pelvic area and infertility. Elevated CA125 levels in people diagnosed with endometriosis can provide information about the severity of the disease. However, this marker only indicates the presence of the disease. To make a definitive diagnosis, doctors often resort to additional diagnostic methods such as ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and laparoscopy.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the female reproductive organs. Inflammation in the pelvic area due to infection can lead to increased CA125 levels. PID is a condition that can cause serious complications if left untreated. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment is important. Symptoms of PID include pain in the lower abdomen, increased vaginal discharge, and painful sexual intercourse. When diagnosing PID, doctors also evaluate pelvic examination, ultrasonography and laboratory tests along with the CA125 test.
Uterine Fibroids
They are benign tumors that occur in the uterus. These fibroids are quite common in women. It can cause menstrual irregularities, pain and pressure symptoms. The presence of fibroids can create a type of inflammatory response in the body, causing the CA125 level to rise. This elevation in CA125 level may give a clue to the presence of uterine fibroids. However, imaging methods such as ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Liver Cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis is a serious disease caused by chronic damage to the liver. Fibrosis in liver tissue causes disruption of normal liver functions. Liver cirrhosis can also lead to elevated CA125 levels. In this case, fluid accumulation in the body (ascites) may occur due to liver dysfunction. This may cause CA125 values to increase. However, although CA125 elevation due to cirrhosis is not related to cancer, it is an indicator of the general inflammatory response occurring in the body.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy, especially in its early stages, may cause some elevation in CA125 levels. This increase is associated with hormonal changes during pregnancy. CA125 level may increase due to many physiological changes in the body, especially in the first trimester. However, this situation is considered normal. Levels may naturally fluctuate throughout pregnancy. Therefore, elevated CA125 during pregnancy is not considered a sign of a disease.
What Does Low CA125 Mean?
In most cases, low CA125 does not indicate any health-related problems. In healthy people, when the CA125 level is below 35 U/mL, this is usually not a concern. In cancer patients receiving treatment, a decrease in CA125 level may indicate that the treatment is effective and the disease is under control.
