Abstract
Purpose. The study aims at investigating the most reliable CA125-related factors in terms of predicting survival outcomes in advanced-stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods. The EOC patients treated with NAC at Peking Union Medical College Hospital by a single gynecological oncology team were enrolled for the retrospective study. The CA125-related variables were categorized into four groups: normalizations, nadirs, half-life and percentage reductions. Associations of these variables with progress-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Results. Of the 101 patients included, 81 patients (80.2%) had progressed, and 51 patients (50.5%) had died of the disease progression. Univariate analysis showed that the CA125 nadir, reduction after the first, second and third postoperative chemotherapy cycles, and time to normalization were significantly (P<0.05) associated with PFS. The CA125 nadir, reduction after the first, second and third postoperative chemotherapy cycles were significantly (P<0.05) associated with OS. In the multivariate analysis, the CA125 nadir value was the most significant factor for PFS and OS, using the CA125 median level 13 U/ml as a cutoff value. Conclusions. Our study suggests that the CA125 nadir value is the most reliable prognostic factor to predict PFS and OS in advanced EOC patients treated with NAC. This information is important in patient counseling and creating individualized follow-up plans.