In about 80% of women with ovarian cancer, CA-125 is elevated.

This property makes it clinically useful in some situations in which ovarian cancer is suspected. However, it has two primary drawbacks:

1. Most elevations of CA-125 are not due to ovarian cancer, but are related to any irritation of the organs that produce it, including ovulation, gastroenteritis, trauma, exercise, pregnancy, benign ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and other innocent conditions.
2. Elevation of the CA-125 level associated with ovarian cancer often occurs rather late in the cancer process, limiting its' usefulness as an early detection technique.

Normal Values*

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.