Currently, there are a large number of methods for diagnosing cancer diseases. It is possible to identify pathology at an early stage of its development using a specific biochemical analysis - a blood test for the CA 125 marker. In order for the results to be as accurate and reliable as possible, it is necessary to prepare for the biomaterial. It is important to know that the CA 125 marker indicates the presence of ovarian pathologies. However, in some cases, its increase in liquid connective tissue is a variant of the norm. In connection with this interpretation of the laboratory test, only a doctor should be engaged.
Oncomarkers: concept
This term refers to a whole group of biological molecules. Each of them has a different origin, but they share one common property. An increased concentration of any marker in the blood indicates, as a rule, the presence of tumors in the body of both benign and malignant nature.
Currently, medicine knows more than 2 hundred types of these biomolecules. No more than 20 possess diagnostic value. The remaining tumor markers are considered insufficiently specific. In other words, an increase in their concentration occurs not only in the presence of tumors, but also in the development of diseases of a different nature.
It is important to know that the detection of tumor markers in biological material does not always indicate cancer. Laboratory research only makes it possible to suspect the presence of oncology. Confirmation of the presence of an ailment is carried out in the process of conducting a comprehensive diagnosis.
What does the marker CA 125 mean?
This substance is a complex compound of polysaccharide and protein. This marker is specific. It allows you to identify oncopathology of the ovary at any stage of its development.
It should be noted that the marker CA 125 can also be detected in men at a concentration of up to 10 units / ml. This condition in representatives of the stronger sex is a variant of the norm, it does not indicate the development of pathology.
Indications for appointment
Blood donation is necessary as part of the initial diagnosis of ovarian cancer. In addition, the doctor may prescribe a study on the tumor marker CA 125 if the patient has the following symptoms:
- Menstrual cycle failure. This symptom is characteristic of many diseases, however, in combination with other manifestations, it helps to make an accurate clinical picture.
- Frequent urination, not ending with emptying the bladder.
- The presence of mucous discharge. Often in them you can see streaks of blood. The smell of discharge in this case is most often neutral.
- Regular pain in the lower back and lower abdomen.
- Flatulence.
- Constipation
- Heaviness in the stomach.
- Feeling of fullness in the abdomen.
- Painful sensations that occur during sexual intercourse.
- Weight loss.
- General weakness.
- Depression.
- Unstable psycho-emotional state.
- Accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (dropsy).
These symptoms are not specific, in connection with which women, as a rule, attribute their appearance to the presence of a non-dangerous inflammatory process. Many patients turn to a medical institution at the stage of accumulation of pathological fluid in the abdominal cavity. It should be noted that dropsy develops when the tumor grows in size and metastasizes.
Specific clinical manifestations occur only against the background of the following malignant ovarian tumors:
- Granulosa cell. Most often, it is a sign of uterine bleeding during menopause. Less commonly, a tumor is manifested by early puberty.
- Adenoblastomas. During the formation and growth of the tumor, women note coarsening of the voice, a decrease in the mammary glands in size, the growth of a mustache and even a beard.
According to statistics, in 70% of cases, patients go to the doctor at a late stage of the development of the pathological process. In this regard, experts prescribe an analysis for the CA 125 marker even in the presence of mild anxiety symptoms in women who went to the doctor for the purpose of a routine examination.
Norm indicators
The concentration of the compound in the blood plasma is individual. But the threshold value of the CA 125 marker is 35 u / ml. Indicators less than this do not indicate the development of the oncological process.
It is important to know that the CA 125 marker not only shows cancer. Using the analysis, the doctor can detect inflammation, endometriosis, genital infections, etc. In addition, the marker CA 125 is an antigen of the fetal tissues.
In this regard, he may be present in:
- The uterine cavity, more precisely, in the composition of serous and mucinous fluids. With the preservation of natural biological barriers, it will never enter the blood plasma.
- Mesothelial layer of peritoneum and pleura.
- Bronchus.
- The kidneys.
- Epithelium of the pericardium.
- Seed plants.
- Gall bladder.
- Fallopian tubes.
- To the stomach.
- The intestines.
- The pancreas.
It is also worth noting that an increase in the CA 125 marker occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy and during menstrual bleeding.
Study preparation
In order to get the most reliable result, it is necessary to observe a number of conditions several days before the delivery of the biomaterial.
The rules of preparation for the study of the ovarian marker CA 125:
- 3-4 days before blood sampling, refuse high-intensity physical exertion. Training should be moderate.
- At least 8 hours should elapse between food intake and delivery of biological material. Allowed only to drink clean still water.
- No smoking is allowed 30 minutes before the test.
- For 2 days, it is important to abandon the use of alcohol-containing drinks.
As mentioned above, an abnormality of the CA 125 marker occurs during menstrual bleeding. In this regard, doctors recommend taking fluid connective tissue on the 2nd-3rd day after its completion.
Biomaterial sampling algorithm
The procedure is standard. The biological material is venous blood. Its fence is carried out as follows:
- The doctor imposes a tourniquet above the elbow.
- It processes the skin at the site of the alleged injection with an alcohol wipe.
- Introduces a needle into a vein and draws blood into a test tube.
- Removes the tourniquet and applies an alcohol napkin to the injection site.
The specialist in the presence of the patient marks the tube. After that, he sends the biomaterial to the laboratory for research.
Interpretation of Results
The maximum allowable value is 35 u / ml. If there is more CA 125 marker in the blood, you should not panic. If this situation arises, it is necessary to undergo an additional examination. During it, the doctor will be able to establish the exact cause of the increase in the tumor marker concentration.
Deviation of the indicator from the norm upwards often indicates the presence of the following diseases:
- Endometriosis.
- Cystic changes in the ovaries.
- Dysmenorrhea.
- Inflammation of the appendages.
- Pathologies sexually transmitted.
- Peritonitis
- Pericarditis.
- Pleurisy.
- Hepatitis.
- Cirrhosis of the liver.
- Pancreatitis of a chronic nature.
Against the background of the course of these pathologies, the concentration of the tumor marker can increase to 100 units / ml.
It is important to know that the complete absence of CA 125 does not guarantee the elimination of cancer. In clinical practice, there have been cases when the marker against the background of the course of the oncological process was absent or did not deviate from the norm in a big way. But in the last stages of cancer, it rises in absolutely all patients.
Analysis for the CA 125 marker is often prescribed to monitor the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment. A decrease in concentration on the background of radiation or chemotherapy indicates a correctly drawn up scheme.
During pregnancy, the level of the marker, as a rule, is always slightly increased. The maximum increase in concentration is characteristic of the first trimester. In addition, the threshold value is often detected in women who are breastfeeding. This condition is a variant of the norm and does not require correction with the help of medications.
The oncomarker level should be controlled only by those pregnant women who have previously been diagnosed with ovarian pathologies.
Indicators of the development of the oncological process
A result of over 100 u / ml is a warning sign. In this case, the doctor may suspect the patient has cancer. In such situations, specialists prescribe an additional examination in order to obtain the most complete picture of the woman’s health status. In addition, a blood test is repeated for the marker CA 125. As a rule, the study is carried out not once, but several times. This allows the doctor to assess the dynamics of the indicator.
An increased value may indicate not only ovarian cancer. An increase in concentration often occurs with other malignant processes:
- Tumors of the fallopian tubes and endometrium.
- Breast cancer.
- Pancreatic malignancies.
- Cancer of the rectum and stomach.
- Tumors of the liver and lungs.
- Other malignant pathologies.
If each repeated result is higher than the previous one, this is the most alarming sign. In this case, the doctor should use all possible informative methods of both laboratory and instrumental diagnostics in order to accurately identify the cause of such dynamics.
Where to donate blood
The collection of biological material is carried out both in budgetary and private medical institutions. In the first case, it is necessary to first draw up a referral for a study with the attending physician. After that, you need to contact the registry and sign up for a specific day. At the appointed time, you must come to the medical institution and donate blood. The service for patients is free with an insurance policy.
Donating blood in a clinic or independent laboratory is much easier. It is enough to find out information regarding the hours of sampling biomaterial in the registry of the selected institution. After that, you can come to the clinic any day and donate blood. The service is provided for a fee.
Cost
The price of the study depends on the region and the policy of the medical institution. In Moscow, the cost of analysis is, on average, 750 rubles. In addition, it is necessary to pay for the blood sampling procedure and supplies (as a rule, no more than 200 rubles). The results of the analysis can be obtained on hand the next business day.
Many laboratories can pay extra for urgency. In this case, the results of the study can be obtained on the day of delivery of the biomaterial. The cost of analysis in this situation is an average of 1400 rubles.
Finally
Marker CA 125 is a specific compound, the concentration of which in the blood plasma most often increases against the background of the development of the oncological process. However, upon receipt of the results of 35-100 units / ml, an additional examination is necessary. This is due to the fact that sometimes the marker rises against the background of the progression of pathologies of a non-oncological nature. A value of more than 100 units / ml in almost all cases indicates the presence of cancer (ovaries, endometrium, fallopian tubes, etc.).