Correlation of serum and salivary CA125 levels in patients with breast cancer.

AIM The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum and saliva levels of cancer antigen (CA) 125 and compare them among healthy women and patients with treated and untreated breast cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS CA125 levels were assayed in serum and unstimulated whole saliva of 25 normal healthy women, 24 patients with untreated breast cancer, and 23 patients with treated breast cancer using enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits. RESULTS The mean saliva and serum CA125 levels were significantly higher in untreated cancer women compared to healthy and treated groups. The serum and saliva CA125 levels showed a significant modest positive correlation (r=0.38; p=0.01). CONCLUSION CA125 level in saliva is higher than in serum with a modest positive correlation between each other. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Serum and salivary CA125 levels were significantly higher in women with untreated breast cancer than healthy women and women who were treated for breast cancer.