Abstract 900: Tissue CA125 expression levels as a biomarker of endometrial cancer

Abstract Serum CA125 has been recognized as a biomarker of gynecological tumors. However, serum CA125 detection is not very sensitive and specific in the diagnosis of cervical and endometrial carcinoma. This study has investigated the endometrial CA125 expression in patients with endometrial polyps, hyperplasia and carcinoma in comparison with normal endometrium. A total of 242 subjects were recruited into this study and they were classified into six groups, namely proliferative phase endometrium (n = 24), secretory phase endometrium (n = 21), non-functional endometrial polyps (n = 24), simple hyperplasia (n = 24), complex hyperplasia (n = 26), and endometrial carcinoma (n = 126). An immunohistochemistry method was used to detect endometrial CA125 expression. The results showed that there were significant differences in CA125 levels between normal and diseased endometrium, with significantly increased CA125 expression in patients with endometrial polyps, complex hyperplasia, and carcinoma compared to those with normal endometrium. There was only a weak CA125 expression in normal endometrium and simple endometrium hyperplasia. There were significant differences in CA125 expression levels between patients with non-functional endometrial polyps, simple hyperplasia, and complex hyperplasia (χ2 = 9.652, p < 0.005). In endometrial carcinoma group, there was a significant difference in CA125 expression among patients with pathological grade I, II and III of endometrial carcinoma (χ2=11.975, p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in CA125 expression between grade I and grade II carcinoma (χ2=3.698, p > 0.05). These findings indicate that endometrial CA125 expression can be used as a reliable biomarker in the diagnosis and clinical staging of endometrial carcinoma in Chinese women. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 900. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-900