CA125 levels in IntervalDebulking

[OVCIndia]

My mother was diagnosed with Stage IIIC/IV ovarian cancer in Dec 2007.  At the time of diagnosis her CA125 was around 4700 and the CT scan showed a large pelvic mass with enlarged ovaries and Cancer spread to the peritoneum.  She had moderate amount of fluid in her abdomen and that tested positive for cancer cells but no other organ involvement.  We took her to a Gyn-Onco who suggested we first go in for 3 cycles of CarboTaxol and then have an IntervalDebulking followed by 3 more cycles of CarboTaxol.  

She started with her Chemo in Jan 2008 and after her 2d cycle the CA125 levels came down from 4700 to 1900.  The oncologist says that she has responded to the treatment but would not consider it a very good response since the CA125 level is still above the normal which is 35.  He has continued the same CarboTaxol combination for the 3d cycle as well.

Does the CA125 level significantly drop After Surgery?  
After how many cycles does one usually see their CA125 level in the normal range?

[Conquerer]

i would think if it was such that they couldn't do surgery first that the number drop is good.  to be below 35 is usually after surgery first and than chemo where you are trkying to kill what was left behind not the whole mass.  good luck

[vegas2cr]

Also similiar situation.  I had 6 rounds of carbo taxol and then debulking after 6 rounds my ca 125 was 6.5 and after surgery it 6.0.  That was last Sept.  unfortunately it hasn't stayed down this year...
Wish your Mom much luck... Ronni

[PF_PVD]

I was in a similar situation—dx stage iv but with peritoneal carcinomatosis not operable without chemo first.  I also had mets to the lymph nodes in my neck which surgery wouldn’t have touched but chemo reduced.  My CA125 was 2,488 at dx, then 72 after tx#2.  Both my onc and my gyn/onc called my response to treatment “remarkable.”  However, after surgery and then tx #4, my CA125 was at 47.  It wasn’t until the day of tx #6 that I got in the normal range at 12.8.  Good luck to your Mom.  I hope her levels go down, down, down.  Paula