Evaluation of CA 125 as a serum marker of hepatocellular carcinoma

Serum CA 125 concentrations were raised in 90.4% of 115 southern African black patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Seventy-four percent of 62 patients with amebic hepatic abscess, 60% of 40 patients with chronic hepatic parenchymal disease (chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis), and 60.9% of 41 patients with acute viral hepatitis also had raised values. The median serum CA 125 concentration for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma differed significantly from the benign hepatic disease groups analysed (p less than 0.0002). Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were raised in 90.4% of the 115 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. CA 125 is thus a highly sensitive marker for hepatocellular carcinoma, but lacks specificity.