CA 125 elevations in patients with malignant lymphomas.

Circulating CA 125 serum levels were measured in 60 patients with several hematological malignancies. Using 35 U/ml as cutoff level, elevated CA 125 concentrations were found in 3 of 18 patients with acute leukemia, 1 of 5 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia, 2 of 9 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and in 14 of 28 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. None of the healthy control group had CA 125 serum levels above 35 U/ml. In patients with malignant lymphoma, elevated CA 125 serum concentrations were associated with abdominal involvement (p < 0.01). 15 of 19 patients with abdominal tumor masses had CA 125 concentrations above 35 U/ml, but only 1 of 18 patients with supradiaphragmatic involvement. Serial determinations of CA 125 were performed in 3 patients with malignant lymphoma during chemotherapy. Disease regression was associated with decreasing CA 125 serum levels. Thus, CA 125 may be a useful indicator of abdominal involvement in patients with malignant lymphoma. Moreover, serial CA 125 measurement may be of value in monitoring response to chemotherapy in these patients.