Prognostic markers in epithelial ovarian cancer

Useful prognostic markers are available in certain areas of clinical management of epithelial ovarian tumors. CA125 and the flow cytometric determinants of DNA index and S-phase fraction are of obvious value in evaluating the outlook of patients particularly in stage II and more advanced cases as well as in the follow-up for recurrent disease. Combinations of other serological markers with CA125 add to the usefulness and may increase the proportion of stage I cases scoring positive with these tests. At the moment, none of the molecular biological markers associated with the oncogen and growth-suppressor gene derangement pathways can be used as candidates for screening markers. Development in this area is very rapid, however, and with increasing understanding of such key conceptual questions as the biological nature of the ovarian borderline tumors, more accurate prognostic markers will emerge.