Tumour biomarkers in heart failure: is there a role for CA-125?

miR-203 Alleviates Myocardial Damage Caused by Acute Coronary Syndrome by Inhibiting CA125

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a significant contributor to cardiovascular mortality. Research has indicated that CA125 levels are linked to cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to explore the role of CA125 in ACS and its underlying mechanism. A retrospective study was conducted involving 34 healthy volunteers and 46 patients diagnosed with ACS. Clinical characteristics and CA125 expression were recorded and detected. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify miRNAs that regulate CA125. HL-1 cardiac muscle cells were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) to investigate the role of CA125 in myocardial injury. An ACS mice model was constructed to further explore the role of CA125 on ACS. The levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, cystatin C, and white blood cells in ACS were markedly higher than those in healthy volunteers. CA125 was up-regulated in ACS and was a target of miR-203. Injection of miR-203 agomir reduced plaque deposition and vascular thrombosis in the coronary lumen, alleviating myocardial damage. Additionally, miR-203 inhibited myocardial apoptosis and inflammation responses induced by OGD/R and ACS. miR-203 can reduce the inflammatory response by inhibiting CA125 expression, thereby improving ACS symptoms and mitigating ACS-induced myocardial injury.

Association between tumor markers elevation and poor functional outcomes after acute ischemic stroke: a longitudinal stroke center-based study

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies revealed that the elevation of serum tumor markers (TMs) can serve as a prognostic indicator for diseases other than cancer, but little is known about its association with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Based on a series of molecular markers and gene pathways shared in both stroke and cancer, we aimed to investigate whether the elevation of TMs could predict clinical outcomes after AIS.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with AIS were enrolled and classified into the elevated TMs group and the non-elevated TMs group according to whether any TMs were elevated or not. Then they were followed up 6 months to assess clinical outcomes. Poor functional outcomes were defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) > 2 points.

RESULTS

289 AIS patients were finally enrolled, of which 197 (68.2%) were classified as the elevated TMs group. Patients in the elevated TMs group were more likely (OR = 2.384; p = 0.005) to have poor functional outcomes at follow-up than those in the non-elevated TMs group. However, no specific TM was significantly more elevated than the other TMs in the patients with poor functional outcome. The combination of TMs was more sensitive than individual TM in terms of prognosis prediction. Furthermore, rather than the number of elevated items, whether any TM was elevated or not was the most appropriate discriminator for functional outcomes after AIS.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevation of TMs may indicate poor functional outcomes after AIS. Consequently, AIS patients with elevated TMs required close clinical monitoring and intensified treatment.

Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Cardio-Oncology: Antineoplastic Drug Cardiotoxicity and Beyond

Serum biomarkers represent a reproducible, sensitive, minimally invasive and inexpensive method to explore possible adverse cardiovascular effects of antineoplastic treatments. They are useful tools in risk stratification, the early detection of cardiotoxicity and the follow-up and prognostic assessment of cancer patients. In this literature review, we aim at describing the current state of knowledge on the meaning and the usefulness of cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with cancer; analyzing the intricate relationship between cancer and cardiovascular disease (especially HF) and how this affects cardiovascular and tumor biomarkers; exploring the role of cardiovascular biomarkers in the risk stratification and in the identification of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity; and providing a summary of the novel potential biomarkers in this clinical setting.

Carbohydrate antigen 125 in congestive heart failure: ready for clinical application?

Congestion is the permanent mechanism driving disease progression in patients with acute heart failure (AHF) and also is an important treatment target. However, distinguishing between the two different phenotypes (intravascular congestion and tissue congestion) for personalized treatment remains challenging. Historically, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) has been a frequently used biomarker for the screening, diagnosis, and prognosis of ovarian cancer. Interestingly, CA125 is highly sensitive to tissue congestion and shows potential for clinical monitoring and optimal treatment of congestive heart failure (HF). Furthermore, in terms of right heart function parameters, CA125 levels are more advantageous than other biomarkers of HF. CA125 is expected to become a new biological alternative marker for congestive HF and thereby is expected be widely used in clinical practice.

Global historical retrospect and future prospects on biomarkers of heart failure: A bibliometric analysis and science mapping

Introduction

Heart failure is a rapidly growing public health problem and has become a major cause of hospitalization in middle-aged and older adults. Biomarkers are clinically important in managing heart failure and have attracted more attention from researchers in recent years. This study aimed to evaluate the global research of heart failure biomarkers by bibliometrics and to identify the hot spots and perspectives for further advancement.

Methods

Selection of relevant documents was from the Web of Science Core Collection. Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, SciMA, and CiteSpace software were used for bibliometric analysis.

Results

As of October 29, 2021, 5,978 documents for heart failure biomarkers have been identified from 1989 to 2021. European Journal of Heart Failure and Circulation respectively ranked first in terms of the number of publications and the number of co-citations. A total of 5,698 institutions from 90 countries participated in these publications, with the USA leading with 2,045 documents. The most productive institution was Harvard University. Januzzi, J.L. and Maisel, A.S. were the most productive and most cited authors respectively. Natriuretic peptide, copeptin, valsartan, ferric carboxymaltose, empagliflozin, preserved ejection fraction, myocardial fibrosis, and heart transplantation were hot themes.

Conclusions

Extensive national and inter-institutional collaboration should be enhanced to bridge the gap between developed and less developed countries in heart failure biomarkers research. The research in this field seems to have reached a relatively mature stage, with a decrease in research fervor in recent years. The study of the natriuretic peptide family still has high centrality, with advances in the study of expression products and inflammatory markers. Cardiac fibrosis, cardiac remodeling, and therapies regarding heart failure have become hot spots.

CA125: a novel cardiac biomarker for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

BACKGROUND

The carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) was proven as a robust biomarker for risk stratification in adults with heart failure. This is the first study analyzing CA125 in a cohort of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

METHODS

Sixty-eight infants with CDH, treated at the University Children's Hospital Bonn (Germany), between January 2018 and February 2021, were prospectively enrolled for analysis. CA125 values were measured at the following timepoints: 6,12, 24, 48 h, and during ECMO daily from day 1 to day 7.

RESULTS

In infants not surviving to discharge, CA125 values were significantly higher at day 1 (6, 12, and 24 h). Infants with subsequent need for ECMO presented significantly higher CA125 values at 12 h of life. During ECMO, CA125 values measured at day 1 were significantly higher in infants not surviving to discharge. In the ROC analysis, a CA125 value of ≥10 U/ml was calculated as optimal cut-off for the prediction of ECMO and in-hospital mortality. CA125 values correlated significantly with the severity of PH and ventricular dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

CA125 values correlate significantly with echocardiographic markers of PH and ventricular dysfunction and correlate significantly with parameters of disease severity (need for ECMO, mortality).

IMPACT

CA125 was proven as robust cardiac biomarker in adult cohorts. Information about the utility as a biomarker in neonatal cohorts is lacking. This is the first study analyzing CA125 as a cardiac biomarker in a cohort of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). CA125 correlates significantly with markers of echocardiographic assessment (PH and ventricular dysfunction) in infants with CDH and helps to identify infants at high risk for ECMO and in-hospital mortality. The results underline the need for the inclusion of cardiac biomarkers in the clinical routine in neonates at risk for cardiopulmonary failure.

Prognostic value of carbohydrate antigen 125 in patients undergoing surgical left ventricular reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is a biomarker often used in diagnosis of ovarian tumors. Studies also show that elevated CA125 implicates worse outcomes among patients with heart failure, while latter of which plays an important role in the pathophysiology of left ventricular aneurysm (LVA). However, the prognostic value of CA125 in LVA patients undergoing surgical left ventricular reconstruction (SLVR) remains unclear.

METHODS

In this single-centered cohort study, a total of 309 patients with LVA undergoing SLVR were retrospectively recruited. Univariable regression analysis was performed to identify the potential confounders for each outcome, followed by multivariable adjustment to confirm the association between CA125 and outcomes. The primary outcome was the overall mortality, and the secondary outcome was the major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and perioperative outcomes. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was use to find the optimal cut-off value of CA125.

RESULTS

The median follow-up time was 55 months. The cohort was predominantly male (86.4%), with an average age of 58.6 years. Log (CA125) was associated with overall mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-4.36, P = 0.033), prolonged hospital-stay time (HR:1.07, 95%CI: 1.03-1.12, P = 0.001) and increased risk of postoperative ventricular support (HR: 2.81, 95%CI: 1.10-7.18, P = 0.031) after multivariate adjustment. The optimal cut-off value for the CA125 for all-cause mortality was 13.825 U/ml with the area under curve of 0.675.

CONCLUSION

Elevated-CA125 implicates poorer short- and long-term prognosis in LVA patients undergoing SLVR.

Female genital tuberculosis presented with primary infertility and persistent CA-125 elevation: A case report

Introduction

and importance: Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of mortality in many developing countries. Female genital tuberculosis, a relatively uncommon form of tuberculosis, is critically challenging to diagnose due to its insidious and non-typical presentations.

Case presentation

Herein, we present with an asymptomatic infertile woman with persistently high CA-125 passed undiagnosed until laparoscopy unveiled the diagnosis of TB.

Clinical discussion

In this study, we highlight the diagnostic complexities in female genital tuberculosis and demonstrate the value of the CA-125 increase in prompting the suspicion of tuberculosis in the appropriate clinical context.

Conclusion

Given the considerably large number of individuals with tuberculosis in China, we strongly recommend routine tuberculosis screening in women seeking infertility care in China.

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Female genital tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose early due to its rarity and insidious symptoms.

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Persistent elevation of CA-125 may indicate the presence of tuberculosis in rare occasions.

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Performing tuberculosis screening routinely for infertile womenin tuberculosis prevailing regions is recommended.

CA-125 variation in acute heart failure: a single-centre analysis

Aims

A decrease in carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA‐125) predicts survival advantage in chronic heart failure (HF); the impact of its variation in acute HF is unknown. We studied the association of CA‐125 decrease with prognosis in acute HF.

Methods and results

We studied acute hospitalized HF patients. Predictors of admission and discharge CA‐125 were determined by linear regression. Follow‐up was 1 year; endpoint was all‐cause death. The association of admission and discharge CA‐125 with mortality was assessed using a Cox‐regression analysis. A Cox‐regression analysis was also used to assess the prognostic impact of CA‐125 decrease during hospitalization. Analysis was stratified by length of hospital stay (LOS). We studied 363 patients, 51.5% male, mean age 75 ± 12 years, 51.5% ischaemic, 30.0% with preserved ejection fraction, and 57.3% with reduced ejection fraction; patients presented elevated comorbidity burden. Median LOS was 7 (5–11) days. In the subgroup of 262 patients with CA‐125 measured both at admission and at discharge, we reported a significant increase in its levels: 56.0 (26.0–160.7) U/mL to 74.0 (32.3–195.0) U/mL. Independent predictors of admission CA‐125 were higher BNP and lower creatinine. Predictors of discharge CA‐125 were higher discharge BNP, lower discharge albumin, and younger age. Both admission and discharge CA‐125 predicted mortality. During follow‐up, 75 (31.8%) patients died. A decrease in CA‐125 predicted a 68% reduction in the 1 year death risk only in patients with LOS > 10 days.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that an early re‐evaluation (>10 days) with CA‐125 measurement after an acute HF hospitalization may be of interest in patient management.

Prognostic role of neoplastic markers in Takotsubo syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute heart failure syndrome with significant rates of in and out-of-hospital mayor cardiac adverse events (MACE). To evaluate the possible role of neoplastic biomarkers [CA-15.3, CA-19.9 and Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)] as prognostic marker at short- and long-term follow-up in subjects with TTS. Ninety consecutive subjects with TTS were enrolled and followed for a median of 3 years. Circulating levels of CA-15.3, CA-19.9 and CEA were evaluated at admission, after 72 h and at discharge. Incidence of MACE during hospitalization and follow-up were recorded. Forty-three (46%) patients experienced MACE during hospitalization. These patients had increased admission levels of CEA (4.3 ± 6.2 vs. 2.2 ± 1.5 ng/mL, p = 0.03). CEA levels were higher in subjects with in-hospital MACE. At long term follow-up, CEA and CA-19.9 levels were associated with increased risk of death (log rank p < 0.01, HR = 5.3, 95% CI 1.9-14.8, HR = 7.8 95% CI 2.4-25.1, respectively, p < 0.01). At multivariable analysis levels higher than median of CEA, CA-19.9 or both were independent predictors of death at long term (Log-Rank p < 0.01). Having both CEA and CA-19.9 levels above median (> 2 ng/mL, > 8 UI/mL respectively) was associated with an increased risk of mortality of 11.8 (95% CI 2.6-52.5, p = 0.001) at follow up. Increased CEA and CA-19.9 serum levels are associated with higher risk of death at long-term follow up in patients with TTS. CEA serum levels are correlated with in-hospital MACE.

The role of carbohydrate antigen 125 in COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an inflammatory process with complex pathophysiology and by affecting the cardiovascular system directly or indirectly that causes life threatening cardiac injuries. Therefore, clarifying the effects of this infection on the cardiovascular system is of importance in terms of the clinical course of the disease. The increases in cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers in COVID-19 have been associated with poor prognosis and mortality. However, there are no specific laboratory markers yet to assess the severity of the disease. In this context, the combination of available biomarkers is needed to better define the clinical course of this disease. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) has become a remarkable marker in recent years as a result of the correlation of increasing levels in cardiovascular diseases with clinical, hemodynamic, echocardiographic parameters and its relation with mortality or re-hospitalization due to heart failure. These findings suggest that CA-125 might be useful biomarker to identify the damage mechanisms of COVID-19, monitoring the prognosis of the disease and the course of the treatment.

Cancer antigen-125 is a predictor of mortality in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND

Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125), known as a tumor marker for ovarian cancer, has been reported to increase and be associated with severity in heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension may also die due to developing right heart failure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic role of CA-125 in PAH patients.

METHODS

A total of 40 consecutive patients with PAH were evaluated prospectively. The mean age of patients was 52 ± 11 years (12% males, 88% females) with a median follow-up period of 16 months.

RESULTS

After follow-up period, 12 out of 40 patients (30%) died. CA-125 levels were higher among those who died compared to those who survived [78.5 (11.0-292) vs. 27.5 (2.10-138) U/ml, p = 0.001]. The optimal cut-off value of CA-125 to predict mortality was found as 35.29 U/ml, with 85.7% specificity and 75% sensitivity. In multivariable Cox proportional-hazards model with forward stepwise method; CA-125 > 35.32 U/ml on admission (HR = 7.645, 95% CI: 1.356-43.121, p = 0.021), age (HR = 1.132, 95% CI: 1.040-1.233, p = 0.004), TAPSE (HR = 0.740, 95% CI: 0.549-0.998, p = 0.048) and uric acid (HR = 1.444, 95% CI: 1.022-2.042, p = 0.037) remained associated with an increased risk of death.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we showed for the first time that serum CA-125 values were an independent predictor for the long-term mortality in PAH patients.

Cancer antigen-125 and outcomes in acute heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA125) is an ovarian cancer marker, but recent work has examined its role in risk stratification in heart failure. A recent meta-analysis examined its prognostic value in heart failure generally. However, there has been no systematic evaluation of its role specifically in acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods

PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched until 11 May 2018 for studies that evaluated the prognostic value of CA125 in AHF.

Results

A total of 129 and 179 entries were retrieved from PubMed and EMBASE. Sixteen studies (15 cohort studies, 1 randomised trial) including 8401 subjects with AHF (mean age 71 years old, 52% male, mean follow-up 13 months, range of patients 525.1±598.2) were included. High CA125 levels were associated with a 68% increase in all-cause mortality (8 studies, HRs: 1.68, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.07; p<0.0001; I²: 74%) and 77% increase in heart failure-related readmissions (5 studies, HRs: 1.77, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.59; p<0.01; I²: 73%). CA125 levels were higher in patients with fluid overload symptoms and signs compared with those without them, with a mean difference of 54.8 U/mL (5 studies, SE: 13.2 U/mL; p<0.0001; I²: 78%).

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis found that high CA125 levels are associated with AHF symptoms, heart failure-related hospital readmissions and all-cause mortality. Therefore, CA125 emerges as a useful risk stratification tool for identifying high-risk patients with more severe fluid overload, as well as for monitoring following an AHF episode.

NT-proBNP and CA 125 levels are associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in coronary sinus serum of patients with chronic heart failure

PURPOSE

Heart failure (HF) is considered to be a complex syndrome associated with neurohormonal and cytokine activation, that contribute to its progression. There are evidences which showed that, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA 125), a tumor marker widely used for ovarian cancer therapy monitoring, was significantly elevated in HF patients. We hypothesized that inflammatory stimuli may be responsible for amino-terminal fragment of the prohormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and CA-125 production and release in chronic HF (CHF). We aimed to measure the levels of NT-proBNP, CA 125, pro-anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-4), from peripheral venous (PV) and coronary sinus (CS) blood samples, in patients with CHF and to assess their correlation with echocardiographic indices.

METHODS

We enrolled 32 subjects (20M/12F) with CHF (III-IV NYHA functional class) who were to undergo cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation and 30 healthy controls (18M/12F). Two blood samples, from PV and CS, were collected at the time of CRT for each CHF patient. Serum levels of biomarkers were measured by ELISA. Cardiac function was assessed echocardiographically.

RESULTS

All investigated biomarkers were significantly higher in CHF patients than in non-CHF controls (P < 0.001). There were positive correlations between biomarkers concentrations in PV and CS (r between 0.54 and 0.98, all P < 0.003). NT-proBNP, IL-6 and IL-1β levels were 17%, 86% and 36% higher in CS than in PV, these increases being very well correlated each other, while CA 125 levels were 86% higher in PV than in CS. Moreover, CS NT-proBNP, CS IL-6 and CS IL-1β serum concentrations were inversely related to the echocardiographically determined left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = -0.61, P < 0.001; r = -0.71, P < 0.001 and r = -0.48, P = 0.005, respectively). A positive relationship was found between CA 125 and IL-1β (r = 0.51, P = 0.003) in CS serum and between CA 125 and IL-6 (r = 0.43, P = 0.015), TNF-α (r = 0.46, P = 0.008) in PV serum. CA 125 concentrations were closely related to NT-proBNP both in CS (r = 0.46, P = 0.008) and PV (r = 0.52, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

CS sampling of NT-proBNP, CA 125 and pro-anti-inflammatory cytokines provides an additional insight into the possible mechanisms by which these biomarkers lead to left ventricular remodeling. Our results clearly suggest that serum NT-proBNP and CA 125 levels not only in PV, but also in CS of patients with CHF, may be dependent on inflammation as a consequence of cytokine network activation.

Role of plasma levels of CA-125 in predicting outcome of primary PCI after acute myocardial infarction in male patients

Introduction: Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is a tumor marker of ovarian cancer, which has shown to be increased in different cardiovascular diseases. Although the prognostic role of CA-125 in heart failure and coronary heart disease is well-established, there is little known about its role in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In this study we aimed to evaluate the serum levels of CA-125 in patients with AMI and its prognostic role in evaluating the in-hospital outcome of AMI. Methods: We evaluated 120 male patients with AMI and 120 male normal subjects. CA-125 levels were measured upon the patient's admission to hospital. The in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and its predictors were also recorded for AMI patients. Results: CA-125 levels were significantly higher in AMI patients compared to normal subjects (7.99±6.83 vs. 5.70±4.62, P = 0.003). We found significant positive correlations between CA-125 levels with creatine kinase-MB (CKMB) (r=0.621, P < 0.001) and CTnI (r=0.491, P < 0.001). The in-hospital MACE was observed in 19 cases (15.8%). Patients with MACE had significantly higher value of CA-125, CKMB and CTnI and lower LVEF compared to patients without MACE. CKMB (OR=0.967, 95% CI [0.943-0.991], P = 0.007) and CA-125 levels (OR=0.821, 95% CI [0.688-0.979], P = 0.02) were independent predictors of MACE. Conclusion: Serum CA-125 levels are significantly higher in male patients with AMI compared to normal subjects and have a significant role in predicting in-hospital MACE after AMI. In patients with higher CA-125 more aggressive treatment and close observation should be performed in order to reduce the possible adverse outcomes.

Carbohydrate antigen 125: a promising tool for risk stratification in heart diseases

All patients with heart diseases should undergo risk stratification to predict those who are at high risk for short- and long-term adverse outcomes. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) is a glycoprotein produced by mesothelium that has clinical role in ovarian cancer monitoring. However, as it is not specific for ovarian cells, CA125 could also be used in heart diseases to monitor congestion and inflammation. Pericarditis, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and coronary artery disease are some scenarios in which this biomarker was studied.CA125 identifies patients at high risk of rehospitalizations and death, in addition to being associated with hemodynamic data (ejection fraction and right atrial pressure). Hence, CA125 is a tool for risk stratification in heart diseases.

Cancer Antigen 125 is Associated with Length of Stay in Patients with Acute Heart Failure

Length of stay is the primary driver of heart-failure hospitalization costs. Because cancer antigen 125 has been associated with poor morbidity and mortality rates in heart failure, we investigated the relationship between admission cancer antigen 125 levels and lengths of stay in heart-failure patients. A total of 267 consecutive patients (184 men, 83 women) with acute decompensated heart failure were evaluated prospectively. The median length of stay was 4 days, and the patients were classified into 2 groups: those with lengths of stay ≤4 days and those with lengths of stay >4 days. Patients with longer lengths of stay had a significantly higher cancer antigen 125 level of 114 U/mL (range, 9-298 U/mL) than did those with a shorter length of stay (19 U/mL; range; 3-68) (P <0.001). The optimal cutoff level of cancer antigen 125 in the prediction of length of stay was >48 U/mL, with a specificity of 95.8% and a sensitivity of 96% (area under the curve, 0.979; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.953-0.992). In the multivariate logistic regression model, cancer antigen 125 >48 U/mL on admission (odds ratio=4.562; 95% CI, 1.826-11.398; P=0.001), sodium level (P<0.001), creatinine level (P=0.009), and atrial fibrillation (P=0.015) were also associated with a longer length of stay after adjustment for variables found to be statistically significant in univariate analysis and correlated with cancer antigen 125 level. In addition, it appears that in a cohort of patients with acute decompensated heart failure, cancer antigen 125 is independently associated with prolonged length of stay.

The Significance of Serum CA-125 Elevation in Chinese Patients with Primary Budd-Chiari Syndrome: A Multicenter Study

Objective. To investigate the serum level of CA-125 and its corresponding clinical significance in Chinese patients with primary BCS. Methods. Serum CA-125 was measured in 243 patients with primary BCS receiving interventional treatment in the participating hospitals and in 120 healthy volunteers. The correlation between serum CA-125 levels and ascites volume, liver function, and prognosis was analyzed. Results. Serum CA-125 was significantly elevated in BCS patients compared to healthy volunteers (P < 0.001). Higher levels of CA-125 were found in BCS patients with abnormal hepatic function and low serum albumin levels and in patients with high volume of ascites compared to patients without these abnormalities. Serum CA-125 levels significantly correlated with ascites volume, serum level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, and Rotterdam BCS scores. The follow-up study indicated that the survival rate and asymptomatic survival rate after interventional treatment were lower in BCS patients with serum CA-125 > 175 U/mL (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Serum CA-125 was significantly higher in patients with primary BCS and had a positive correlation with the volume of ascites, severity of liver damage, and poor prognosis. Thus the serum CA-125 levels may be used to estimate the severity and prognosis of BCS in Chinese patients.

Diagnostic Difficulties in Woman with Crohn's Disease, Ascites, and Elevated Value of Serum CA125 Antigen

Variety of symptoms and atypical clinical course of Crohn's disease (CD) often create the need for additional diagnostic procedures. In the described case of woman with CD, there was a suspicion of coexistence of ovarian cancer. This issue is particularly important in patients treated with immunosuppressants and biological agents. The discussion focused on the usefulness of CA125 (cancer antigen 125, mucin 16) serum level estimation in clinical practice and draws attention to the possible reasons for the increase of its value which is not associated to ovarian cancer.

Prognostic value of increased carbohydrate antigen in patients with heart failure

AIM: To study the prognostic value of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) and whether it adds prognostic information to N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in stable heart failure (HF) patients.

METHODS: The predictive value of CA125 was retrospectively assessed in 156 patients with stable HF remitted to the outpatient HF unit for monitoring from 2009 to 2011. Patients were included in the study if they had a previous documented episode of HF and received HF treatment. CA125 and NT-proBNP concentrations were measured. The independent association between NT-proBNP or CA125 and mortality was assessed with Cox regression analysis, and their combined predictive ability was tested by the integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) index.

RESULTS: The mean age of the 156 patients was 72 ± 12 years. During follow-up (17 ± 8 mo), 27 patients died, 1 received an urgent heart transplantation and 106 required hospitalization for HF. Higher CA125 values were correlated with outcomes: 58 ± 85 KU/L if hospitalized vs 34 ± 61 KU/L if not (P < 0.05), and 94 ± 121 KU/L in those who died or needed urgent heart transplantation vs 45 ± 78 KU/L in survivors (P < 0.01). After adjusting for propensity scores, the highest risk was observed when both biomarkers were elevated vs not elevated (HR = 8.95, 95%CI: 3.11-25.73; P < 0.001) and intermediate when only NT-proBNP was elevated vs not elevated (HR = 4.15, 95%CI: 1.41-12.24; P < 0.01). Moreover, when CA125 was added to the clinical model with NT-proBNP, a 4% (P < 0.05) improvement in the IDI was found.

CONCLUSION: CA125 > 60 KU/L identified patients in stable HF with poor survival. Circulating CA125 level adds prognostic value to NT-proBNP level in predicting HF outcomes.

High serum carbohydrate antigen 125 concentration can predict serous effusion but not gastrointestinal malignancy in male patients

This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) in male patients for predicting gastrointestinal malignant diseases. One hundred twenty consecutive male patients underwent CA125 test after admission to the Department of Gastroenterology in Changhai Hospital, the Second Military Medical University, from April to June 2013. Data of age, main symptoms, and final diagnosis were summarized. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of CA125 for malignancy were estimated, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and the area under the curve (AUC) were also performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of CA125 in male patients. The PPV, NPV, PLR, and NLR of CA125 in malignancy were 55 %, 69 %, 1.90, and 0.71, respectively. However, we found that an elevated serum CA125 level was more common in male patients with serous effusion than those with malignancy. The PPV, NPV, PLR, and NLR of CA125 in serous effusion were 85 %, 96 %, 12.70, and 0.09, respectively. In the ROC analysis, the AUC values for CA125 was 0.96 (95 % confidence interval, 0.93-0.99) for discriminating patients with serous cavity effusion from those without serous effusion. CA125 has a higher accuracy in detecting serous effusion than malignancy in male patients with gastrointestinal diseases. It is of little significance for male patients to perform CA125 test for malignancy.

Elevation of carbohydrate antigen 125 in chronic heart failure may be caused by mechanical extension of mesothelial cells from serous cavity effusion

OBJECTIVES

The practical application of elevated carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) to predict clinical outcome in chronic heart failure (CHF) is under debate. The mechanism for this CA125 elevation remains unknown. We hypothesize that mechanical stress on mesothelial cells initiates CA125 synthesis.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A total of 191 patients suffering from edema and/or dyspnea were enrolled. 109 patients were diagnosed as CHF, and 82 patients without CHF were assigned as control group. Echocardiography, CA125, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and other biochemical parameters were measured. All enrolled patients underwent heart function classification.

RESULTS

Patients with serous cavity effusion (SCE) demonstrated higher serum CA125 than patients without SCE (82.91 (61.90-103.92) vs. 44.98 (29.66-60.30) U/mL, P<0.001). In the absence of SCE, CA125 levels in CHF patients were slightly higher than non-CHF patients (52.37 (34.85-69.90) vs. 35.15 (23.81-46.49) U/mL, P=0.017). Additionally, compared with non-CHF patients, CHF patients had higher levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and lower superoxide dismutase (SOD). In all enrolled patients, CA125 levels were negatively correlated with SOD concentrations (r=-0.567, P<0.001), and positively correlated with hsCRP levels (r=0.608, P<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that CA125 was better in predicting SCE than NT-proBNP, while NT-proBNP was more suitable for predicting CHF than CA125. The in vitro study demonstrated that MUC16, the CA125 coding gene, was up-regulated by mechanical stretch on human mesothelial cell line (MeT-5A).

CONCLUSIONS

CA125 elevation in CHF was associated with SCE. Mechanical extension of mesothelial cells from SCE plays an important role in CA125 increase.

Beyond malignancy: the role of carbohydrate antigen 125 in heart failure

Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125), traditionally a tumor marker for screening, diagnosis, and monitoring in ovarian malignancy, had recently been shown increasing evidence and more extensively recognized/explored as a novel surrogate of heart failure (HF). The exact mechanisms underlying the pathophysiologic link between elevated serum CA-125 concentration and HF may be multi-factorial, with both mechanical and inflammatory process including numerous potential cytokines involved. Accumulating data had consistently indicated its diagnostic and prognostic role in HF patients in various clinical settings, however, there is limited clinical information regarding the incremental value or head-to-head comparison of such marker to other well-established HF markers. In this brief review, we aimed to discuss the biosynthesis, and potential insights of underlying pathophysiologies associated with CA-125 secretion in the scenarios of cardiac structural/functional alterations and HF, and further explored its current usage and roles in several recent reports.

Experimental biomarkers in heart failure: an update

Over the past 5 years, researchers have examined the utility of many experimental heart failure biomarkers that are not yet widely adopted clinically, to complement the role of B-type natriuretic peptide and its precursor. Candidate biomarkers have been identified from several different pathophysiologic categories, including markers of inflammation, myocyte necrosis, renal dysfunction, neurohumoral activation, oxidative stress and raised intracardiac pressure. Indeed, some biomarkers provide prognostic information that is independent of information obtained from conventional clinical and biomarker assessment. Moreover, some biomarkers studied help to identify dominant pathology that may predict responsiveness to specific therapies. Preliminary data also suggest a potential role for the development of comprehensive biomarker profiling models, integrating biomarkers from several categories to refine risk assessment.

New mechanism of elevated CA125 in heart failure: the mechanical stress and inflammatory stimuli initiate CA125 synthesis

Carbohydrate antigen 125 has been known as a membrane-associated mucin. It has found application as a tumor marker that may be elevated in the blood of some patients with ovarian cancer, or other benign conditions. Recently, increased serum carbohydrate antigen 125 levels have been documented in patients with heart failure. However, little is known about the pathophysiologic mechanism. It has been found that carbohydrate antigen 125 will be shed from surfaces of mesothelial cells in response to mechanical stress such as fluid overload, and inflammatory stimuli. High carbohydrate antigen 125 levels are closely related to the presence of serosal fluid and positively correlated with serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 levels in heart failure patients. This leads to proposed hypothesis that the mechanical stress and inflammatory stimuli both initiate carbohydrate antigen 125 synthesis. This finding suggests that carbohydrate antigen 125 might be a promising biomarker to evaluate the risk stratification of heart failure and monitor the process of therapy.