Test Not Effective For Ovarian Cancer

Q: Why is the CA-125 blood test not a good screening test for ovarian cancer? I asked my doctor to order the test at my last physical, but he refused. --- L.Z., Wilkes Barre, Pa.

A: Unfortunately, there are no commercially available screening tests for detecting early ovarian cancer. The only approved use of the CA-125 blood test is in women with known ovarian cancer to monitor treatment response or recurrence. CA-125 is a protein produced in response to irritation of the surfaces of the body cavities. The CA-125 blood test is neither sensitive enough to pick up an early cancer nor specific enough to be clinically useful as a screening test.

Even in advanced ovarian cancer, the CA-125 level has been normal in 20 percent of cases. Some ovarian cancers do not produce any CA-125. More importantly, only half of all ovarian cancers will cause a rise in the CA-125 while the cancer is still contained within the ovary.

For women of high risk, gynecologists may still order a CA-125 test along with a transvaginal ultrasound at the time of their gynecological exam. Always pay attention to persistent vague abdominal symptoms of bloating that have not been explained by irritable bowel syndrome or constipation. If colonoscopy and X-rays don't explain your symptoms, be sure your doctor scans your ovaries and abdomen.

Good news: There may be a screening test for ovarian cancer within the next year from Correlogic Systems --- the OvaCheck blood test (www.correlogic.com) available through Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp.

Copyright 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution