Which tumor marker is most commonly used to monitor ovarian cancer treatment?

Which tumor marker is most commonly used to monitor ovarian cancer treatment?

• A. CEA
• B. CA 15-3
• C. CA 125
• D. PSA

Answer: (C)

Tracking how ovarian cancer responds to treatment relies on a marker that tends to mirror tumor burden. CA-125 is the marker most commonly used for this purpose because many epithelial ovarian cancers produce it, so its levels usually drop when treatment is effective and rise if the disease progresses or recurs. Clinically, it’s followed over time to gauge response and detect relapse, often alongside imaging and physical exams. It’s not perfect—some ovarian cancers don’t overproduce CA-125, and benign conditions can raise it—but it remains the standard surveillance tool in this setting. Other markers are associated with different cancers: CEA is more linked to colorectal and some gastrointestinal cancers; CA 15-3 is used mainly in breast cancer; PSA is specific to prostate cancer.

Tracking how ovarian cancer responds to treatment relies on a marker that tends to mirror tumor burden. CA-125 is the marker most commonly used for this purpose because many epithelial ovarian cancers produce it, so its levels usually drop when treatment is effective and rise if the disease progresses or recurs. Clinically, it’s followed over time to gauge response and detect relapse, often alongside imaging and physical exams. It’s not perfect—some ovarian cancers don’t overproduce CA-125, and benign conditions can raise it—but it remains the standard surveillance tool in this setting.

Other markers are associated with different cancers: CEA is more linked to colorectal and some gastrointestinal cancers; CA 15-3 is used mainly in breast cancer; PSA is specific to prostate cancer.