Description
A CA-125 test, or cancer antigen 125 test, measures the amount of CA-125 protein in a blood sample:
Purpose:
A CA-125 test can be used to screen for ovarian cancer, monitor patients with ovarian cancer, and help determine if treatment is working.
High levels of CA-125 can be a sign of ovarian cancer, but they can also be caused by other conditions, such as menstruation, pregnancy, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids. The test is most useful for postmenopausal women because its specificity is low in premenopausal women.
Other cancers that can cause high CA-125 levels include:
- Cancer of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, liver, breast, colon, or lung
- Cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum), including lymphoma
Fasting not required.
