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Carbohydrate Antigen-125: Endometrial Cancer or Heart Failure Biomarker?
Vijay U Rao1, Thomas Fretz2, Tina Ayeni3
1Indiana Heart Physicians, Franciscan Cardio-Oncology Center, Franciscan Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) levels in endometrial cancer patients can be elevated due to heart failure (HF), not just cancer progression. Clinicians should consider HF as a cause for rising CA-125 levels.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Biomarker Research
Background:
- Carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA-125) is a biomarker commonly used to monitor endometrial cancer progression.
- Elevated CA-125 levels can also be associated with other non-malignant conditions.
Observation:
- A 70-year-old woman with metastatic endometrial cancer presented with ascites and rising CA-125 levels, initially concerning for disease progression.
- The patient was diagnosed with heart failure (HF).
Findings:
- Treatment of HF with loop diuretics led to normalization of CA-125 levels without altering cancer therapy.
- This suggests CA-125 levels can be influenced by intracardiac filling pressures in HF.
Implications:
- CA-125 may serve as a novel biomarker for monitoring heart failure.
- Clinicians should consider heart failure as a potential cause for elevated CA-125 levels in endometrial cancer patients, alongside cancer progression.
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