Elevated tumour marker CA125: Interpretations in clinical practice

Cancer Screening Experiences of Black Breast and Ovarian Cancer Patients and Family Members

Black women experience disproportionate rates of advanced breast cancer diagnoses and mortality. Mammography is a proven and effective tool in early breast cancer detection and impacts patient outcomes. We interviewed Black women with a personal or family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer to understand their screening experiences and views. N = 61 individuals completed an interview. Interview transcripts were qualitatively analyzed for themes regarding clinical experiences, guideline adherence, and family sharing specific to Black women and their families. Most participants were college educated with active health insurance. Women in this cohort were knowledgeable about the benefits of mammography and described few barriers to adhering to annual mammogram guidelines. Some with first-degree family history were frustrated at insurance barriers to mammography before the age of 40. Participants were generally comfortable encouraging family and friends to receive mammograms and expressed a desire for a similar screening tool for ovarian cancer. However, they expressed concern that factors such as screening awareness and education, lack of insurance coverage, and other systematic barriers might prevent other Black women from receiving regular screening. Black women in this cohort reported high adherence to mammography guidelines, but expressed concern about cultural and financial barriers that may impact cancer screening access in the population more generally and contribute to disparities. Participants noted the importance of frank and open discussions of breast cancer screening in their families and community as a means of improving awareness.

Evaluation of the clinical application of multiple tumor marker protein chip in the diagnostic of lung cancer

BACKGROUND

The early diagnostic of lung cancer plays an important role in the prognosis of surgical treatment among lung cancer patients. To evaluate the clinical application of multi-tumor markers protein biochip in the diagnosis of lung cancer, 12 tumor markers were detected in patients with different stages of lung cancer.

METHODS

Serum CA125, CA19-9, Ferritin, CA15-3, CA242, CEA, AFP, NSE, PSA, f-PSA, HGH, and β-HGH were assessed in 506 patients, with 224 patients with lung cancer (including 123 cases of adenocarcinoma, 30 squamous cell carcinoma, 54 small-cell carcinoma, and 17 non classification), 159 patients with benign lung disease and 90 healthy people control by the C-12 multiple tumor protein-chip detective system.

RESULTS

The positive rate of C-12 (77.23%) in lung cancer was significantly higher than that of benign lung disease (13.84%) and healthy people (9.76%) (P < .01). In lung cancer, the positive rate of CA199, NSE, CEA, CA242, Ferritin, f-PSA, and CA125 were significantly higher than that of benign lung disease and healthy people. In adenocarcinoma, the positive rate of CA125 (73.53%) was significantly higher than that of squamous cell carcinoma (36.67%) and small-cell carcinoma (56.62%).

CONCLUSION

The C-12 multiple tumor protein-chip detective system has acceptable sensitivity in the diagnostic of lung cancer.

High CA-125 and CA19-9 levels in spontaneous ruptured ovarian endometriomas

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the clinical significance of serum CA-125 and CA19-9 in women with spontaneous ruptured ovarian endometriomas.

METHODS

From January 2006 to April 2015, a total of 1653 women were diagnosed with ovarian endometriomas, and 43 women were diagnosed with the spontaneous rupture of their ovarian endometrioma. In addition, 70 women diagnosed with unruptured ovarian endometriomas were chosen to serve as control subjects. Serum CA-125 and CA19-9 levels, together with the clinical materials, were collected.

RESULTS

Serum CA-125, CA19-9, and the combined biomarkers were shown to be obviously elevated in the spontaneous ruptured ovarian endometrioma group (p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively). The AUC value for the combined biomarkers was 0.992 (95% CI, 0.981-1.000), with a high sensitivity and specificity of nearly 100% and 93.6%, respectively. Moreover, the maximum diameter of the mass was significantly (p=0.001) increased in the ruptured group.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum CA-125 and CA19-9 were significantly increased in patients with spontaneous ruptured ovarian endometriomas. Moreover, the combined biomarkers were better than either CA-125 or CA19-9 alone in the diagnosis of a spontaneous rupture of the ovarian endometrioma.