Preoperative serum levels of cancer antigen 125 and carcinoembryonic antigen ratio can improve differentiation between mucinous ovarian carcinoma and other epithelial ovarian carcinomas

Objective The main aim of this study was to evaluate cancer antigen 125 (CA125)/carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ratio (CCR), as a reliable marker to differentiate ovarian mucinous carcinoma from other epithelial ovarian carcinomas (EOCs), namely serous, clear cell, and endometrioid carcinomas. Methods Female patients suffering from different kinds of EOCs whom were subjected to elective surgery at the Gangnam Severance Hospital between January 2008 and December 2016, were included in this study. The serum levels of CA125 and CEA were assayed using commercially available kits per the manufacturer''s instructions. Results The CCR in mucinous carcinoma (mean 32.1) was significantly lower than that of clear cell (mean 235.0) and endometrioid carcinoma (mean 427.0) in stage I (all P