Concentrations of CA-125 tumor marker in endometrial carcinoma.

Thirty-eight patients with irregular perimenopausal hemorrhage in whom carcinoma of the endometrium had been diagnosed by fractional curettage were included in the study. In all patients, the concentration of CA-125 tumor marker was determined preoperatively. Findings were compared to the depth of penetration of stage I adenocarcinoma into the endometrium. A statistically significantly higher CA-125 value was recorded when the tumor had penetrated more than one-third of the uterine wall. This method could be successfully combined with other techniques in therapy planning.