How much should CA125 elevation raise concern for tumors?
Feb 26, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Qi Zhirong
Introduction
Elevated CA125 levels are not necessarily entirely related to tumors. CA125 generally refers to cancer antigen 125, a glycoprotein, with a common reference range below 35 U/ml. An increase in CA125 does not exclusively indicate the presence of a tumor; it can also be observed in benign conditions. When CA125 levels are found to be high, a comprehensive medical evaluation at a hospital should be conducted promptly to determine whether a tumor is present.
Elevated CA125 levels are not necessarily entirely related to tumors.
CA125 generally refers to carbohydrate antigen 125, a glycoprotein, with a common reference range below 35 U/ml. An increased CA125 level does not exclusively indicate the presence of a tumor; it can also be observed in benign conditions. When levels rise to 100–200 U/ml, the elevation may be due to benign diseases such as infection, inflammation, menstruation, endometriosis, or adenomyosis. When levels increase to 300–400 U/ml or even exceed 1,000 U/ml, there is a stronger association with malignant tumors. This is most commonly seen in epithelial ovarian cancer. Mild elevations may also occur in endometrial cancer. Therefore, CA125 is a serum test whose primary significance lies in its association with tumor development, although mild increases can also occur in many benign conditions.
In addition, an elevated CA125 level alone cannot confirm a tumor diagnosis. If CA125 levels are found to be high, individuals should promptly visit a hospital for a comprehensive evaluation under medical guidance to determine whether a tumor is present. In daily life, it's important to maintain healthy habits, including going to bed and waking up early and engaging in regular physical exercise.
