SERUM CARBOHYDRATE ANTIGEN-125 LEVELS AS A RELIABLE MARKER FOR FOLLOW UP OF NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMA (NHL)

Abstract

CA-125 is a glycoprotein that is mostly associated with epithelial ovarian cancer and has been used lo monitor the effect of treatment of the disease. Recently this protein was found to increase in certain lymphoma patients. Those lymphoma patients with high serum levels ofCA-125 were reported to have extensive abdominal involvement.

This work aimed at assessing the predictive value of serum CA-125 in the treatment outcome of NHL patients.

This study included 18 newly diagnosed NHL patients investigated before the start of chemotherapy and then followed up after 2-3 cycles and at the end of chemotherapy cycles these patients were studied according to the number of chemotherapy cycles.

Group I : Pre-cyclic chemotherapy patients group : 18 patients.

Group II : Mid-cyclic chemotherapy patients group (2-3 cycle of chemotherapy): 18 patients.

Group III : End-cyclic chemotherapy patients group (5-6 cycle of chemotherapy): 17 patients (one patient died).

Control subjects were studied as the fourth group.

Group IV : IO apparently healthy subjects.

Patients and controls were subjected to the following investigations before start of treatment. I- Complete blood count.