Disseminated epithelial cells in BM are associated with poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients. However, the presence of these cells is not a sufficient parameter to predict growing metastases in the majority of patients, suggesting that epithelial cells in the BM of breast cancer patients at the time of surgery have limited metastatic potential. The role of these cells needs to be further evaluated.

No abstract

Circulating CA 125 serum levels were measured in 60 patients with several hematological malignancies. Using 35 U/ml as cutoff level, elevated CA 125 concentrations were found in 3 of 18 patients with acute leukemia, 1 of 5 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia, 2 of 9 patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and in 14 of 28 patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. None of the healthy control group had CA 125 serum levels above 35 U/ml. In patients with malignant lymphoma, elevated CA 125 serum concentrations were associated with abdominal involvement (p < 0.01). 15 of 19 patients with abdominal tumor masses had CA 125 concentrations above 35 U/ml, but only 1 of 18 patients with supradiaphragmatic involvement. Serial determinations of CA 125 were performed in 3 patients with malignant lymphoma during chemotherapy. Disease regression was associated with decreasing CA 125 serum levels. Thus, CA 125 may be a useful indicator of abdominal involvement in patients with malignant lymphoma. Moreover, serial CA 125 measurement may be of value in monitoring response to chemotherapy in these patients.