Serum markers CASA and CA 15-3 in ovarian cancer: All MUC1 assays are not the same

Abstract

The serum MUC1 markers CASA and CA 15-3 were compared with CA 125 in the serum of patients with ovarian cancer and in pregnant women. Used individually, CASA and CA 15-3 gave sensitivities of 54 and 56% in pre-operative ovarian carcinoma (n = 50), though these were lower than with CA 125 (84%). CASA levels were elevated in 3 women with a negative CA 125, while CA 15-3 was elevated in 2 of these women. The combined use of CA 125 with CASA or CA 15-3 led to the preclinical detection of recurrence in 4/5 patients, with mean lead times of 3.6 and 4.3 months, respectively. Of particular interest was the marked difference in reactivity observed with CASA and CA 15-3 in some patients, despite both ..