Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biohemistry,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Turkey
Note: [] Correspondence: Dr. Ayse Binnur Erbagci, Department of
Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Gaziantep, TR-27310 Gaziantep, Turkey, Tel.: +90 342 360 1200-3203, Fax: +90
342 360 1617, E-mail: erbagci@gantep.edu.tr
Abstract: Information on menstrual cycle dependent variation of tumor markers
in healthy women is a subject of diagnostic efficiency and has an impact in
elucidating the normal function of these markers. In this study
midfollicular and midluteal concentrations of serum CEA, AFP, CA 19-9,
CA 125, CA 15-3 and their relations with LH, FSH, prolactin,
estradiol and progesterone were evaluated during ovulatory cycles in a group of
23 healthy female individuals. Samples were collected on the 7th and
21st day of the same menstrual cycle. Tumor marker and hormone
concentrations were determined with chemiluminescence or
electrochemiluminescence EIA methods. A significant phase-dependent
difference was observed for CA 15-3, midluteal concentrations
(mean ± SEM; 26.33 ± 1.56 U/ml) higher than
the midfollicular (mean ± SEM; 19.27 ± 1.49
U/ml) concentrations (p < 0.001). But an obvious
difference for other tumor markers investigated did not
exist. Significant correlations of follicular and luteal CA 125
levels with body mass index of the subjects were observed (r:0.52,
p < 0.05 and r:0.57, p < 0.005, respectively).
CA 15-3 antigen is a product of the MUC-1 gene which is expressed in
abundance by endometrial epithelial cells in the secretory phase of the
menstrual cycle which may be the potential source of
variability. The association of CA 125 levels with obesity
suggests a possible role of adipose tissue in CA 125
metabolism. In conclusion our data suggest that in healthy women
serum CA 15-3 levels are significantly elevated in the midluteal phase of
the menstrual cycle compared to midfollicular phase. Therefore, consideration
of menstrual cycle dependent variability for CA 15-3 appears indicated in
interpretation of individual results.
Keywords: tumor markers, menstrual cycle, CEA, AFP, CA 19-9, CA 125, CA 15-3
