In vitro CA-125 secretion by ectopic endometrial epithelial cells

Objective To investigate if the CA-125 secretion by ectopic endometrial epithelial cells is potential source of the elevated concentrations of CA-125 in serum and peritoneal fluid. Methods Twelve normal women as control, and twelve women with endometriosis were enrolled for study. CA-125 levels in supernatant of cultured from ectopic and normal endometrial epithelial cells were measured by enzyme - labeled immunosorhent assay (ELISA). Results CA-125 was secreted in similar concentrations by epithelial cells from both tissue types. The mean levels of CA-125 in ectopic and norma] endometrial were (511.19±169.20) μ IU / cell and (698.58±294.52) μ IU / cell, respectively (P0.05).There was no significant difference. But the correlation between CA-125 secretion by ectopic endometrial and the scoring of endometriosis was positive (P0.05).Conclusion The production of CA-125 by ectopic implants of endometriosis is likely to be a contributing factor of the elevated serum and peritoneal fluid levels of CA-125. The higher was scoring, the higher was production of CA-125 by ectopic implants.