CA-125 Levels Vary by Patient Race at Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 24, 2025 -- Black and American Indian patients are less likely to have elevated cancer antigen (CA)-125 levels at ovarian cancer diagnosis, according to a study published online March 20 in JAMA Network Open.
Anna Jo Bodurtha Smith, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems in Philadelphia, and colleagues conducted a retrospective cohort study involving all patients with ovarian cancer diagnosed between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2020, to examine CA-125 levels at ovarian cancer diagnosis by patient race and ethnicity.
Of the 250,749 patients included, 0.4, 3.7, 8.6, 85.2, and 2.0 percent were American Indian, Asian, Black, White, and other or unknown race, respectively, and 6.7, 88.8, and 4.6 percent were Hispanic, non-Hispanic, and unknown ethnicity, respectively. Overall, 212,477 had measured CA-125 levels and 88.2 percent had elevated CA-125 levels at diagnosis. The researchers found that the likelihood of having an elevated CA-125 level at ovarian cancer diagnosis was lower for patients of American Indian, Asian, or Black race versus White patients. After adjustment for stage, comorbidities, and menopausal stage, Black and American Indian patients had lower odds of elevated CA-125 than Whites (adjusted odds ratios, 0.77 and 0.77). For patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer only, the odds of having elevated CA-125 at diagnosis were lower for Black patients (adjusted odds ratio, 0.81).
"Further work is needed to develop inclusive CA-125 thresholds and guidelines for an ovarian cancer diagnosis and prevent compounding disparities," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to GlaxoSmithKline.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted March 2025
Read this next
Urgent Care Visits Often Linked to Inappropriate Prescribing
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 -- Urgent care visits are often associated with inappropriate prescriptions of antibiotics, glucocorticoids, and opioids, according to a research letter...
Race Definitions Have Limited Impact on Cancer Rates in Whites, Blacks, Asians
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 -- Race definitions have limited impact on cancer rates for Whites, Blacks, and Asians, but do impact rates in multiracial individuals, according to a study...
Millions of Backyard Pools Recalled After Drowning Deaths of Nine Children
MONDAY, July 21, 2025 — Close to 5 million above-ground swimming pools have been recalled following the drowning deaths of nine children over two decades. The 48-inch and...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.