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Abstract
A quarter of a century since its discovery, circulating CA125 antigen is recommended for clinical use in the USA for ovarian cancer screening of high-risk women with ovaries, despite its limited sensitivity and specificity. Recent findings suggest that CA125 might also serve as a predictive marker for pre-invasive ovarian carcinoma. Methods to quantify circulating CA125 evolved toward sensitive and reliable double-determinant ELISA assays. The CA125 gene, MUC16, was cloned 20 years after the protein discovery and revealed a very complex and unusual glycoprotein structure, suggesting an immunological role. Recent evidence points toward CA125 function in the induction of materno–fetal tolerance through the alteration of natural killer phenotype. Two receptors for CA125 have been described: mesothelin and galectin-1. The specific location and functional proprieties of CA125 make it a therapeutic target of choice; clinical trials have demonstrated that anti-CA125 injections are well tolerated and suggest a potential survival benefit.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.