C125 normal value

I believe that many women who have done blood tests are familiar with CA125. CA125 is closely related to women's ovarian health. If CA125 is elevated, the probability of women suffering from ovarian cancer or other gynecological diseases will be correspondingly higher, so women still need to know something about CA125. Below I will introduce you to the relevant knowledge of CA125!

1. Normal value of CA125

The normal serum value of CA125 is 35U/mL. CA125 was originally derived from a glycoprotein detected in the human ovarian epithelial cell antigen test. By testing CA125, ovarian tumors, especially serous tumors, can be detected. The increase in its measurement value can reflect the malignancy of the tumor or the effect of treatment. The detection of CA125 has high sensitivity but poor specificity in diagnosis. In addition to being able to diagnose and evaluate the treatment of ovarian cancer, it also has a certain influence on non-ovarian malignant tumors, such as breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, etc. In addition, non-malignant tumors such as endometriosis, pancreatitis, cirrhosis and other diseases can also detect elevated levels of this protein. Increased CA125 levels can also be detected in the serum of some normal people, such as in the first three months of early pregnancy.

2. Biological characteristics of CA125

CA125 is an antigen that can be recognized by a monoclonal antibody (named OC125) obtained by immunizing mice with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma cells and hybridizing with myeloma cells. It is a transmembrane glycoprotein located in the chromosome 19p13.2 region and contains 5797 base pairs. It belongs to IgG1. Because its amino acid sequence has some characteristics of mucin molecules, it was named CA125 (the gene is MUC16), and transfection technology has confirmed that MUC16 is CA125. The relative molecular mass of CA125 is 200,000 to 1 million. It is a high-molecular glycoprotein with a ring structure and contains 24% carbohydrates. It is a mucin-like glycoprotein complex and belongs to IgG. The concentration of CA125 in healthy adults is less than 35U/mL.

3. Clinical significance of CA125

① The serum CA125 level in ovarian cancer patients is significantly elevated, while the CA125 level drops rapidly in those who respond to chemotherapy and surgery. If there is a recurrence, CA125 may increase before clinical symptoms.

② Other non-ovarian malignant tumors also have a certain positive rate, such as breast cancer 40%, pancreatic cancer 50%, gastric cancer 47%, lung cancer 44%, colorectal cancer 32%, and other gynecological tumors 43%. For lung cancer patients, the CA125 positivity rate increases significantly with the progression of lung cancer stage. Clinical studies have shown [1] that the positivity rate for stage I lung cancer is 7.8%, 18.6% for stage II, 32.5% for stage III, and 53.9% for stage IV, with an overall positivity rate of 26.9%.

③ Although non-malignant tumors such as endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian cysts, pancreatitis, hepatitis, and cirrhosis have varying degrees of increase, the positive rate is relatively low.

④ Elevated CA125 levels were found in pleural and abdominal fluids, and higher concentrations of CA125 could also be detected in amniotic fluid.

⑤CA125 may also be elevated within the first 3 months of early pregnancy.

⑥ CA125 in pelvic and abdominal tuberculosis will also increase by dozens of times.