Monitoring the cytotoxic potential of a sequential polychemotherapy (adriamycin/cisplatin-vincristine/cyclophosphamide-high dose methotrexate) in patients with advanced ovarian cancer with the tumor marker CA-125.

The cytotoxic efficacy of a new sequential chemotherapy, called changing-scheme (adriamycin/cisplatin-vincristine/cyclophosphamide-HD-methotrexate), was investigated parallel to the course of CA-125 serum levels. Sixty-three percent of the women studied achieved remission under this chemotherapy. A correlation between clinically proven tumor stage and CA-125 serum level was found in 90%. The cytotoxic potential of the three single parts of the changing-scheme was demonstrated based on decreasing CA-125 serum levels. The value of the tumor marker CA-125 for the follow-up of patients with malignant ovarian tumors is discussed in detail.