CA 125, CA 19-9 and CEA were demonstrated in tissue samples of 30 ovarian borderline
tumors by immunohistochemistry. Of the 21 serous and 9 mucinous borderline
tumors, 23 were in stage I and 7 stage III. None of the patients died of disease. All mucinous borderline
tumors were CA 125 negative, 89% CA 19-9 positive and 44% CEA positive. 62% of the serous borderline
tumors were CA 125 positive, 52% CA 19-9 and 19% CEA positive.
Tumors of low malignant potential responded to CA 19-9 like invasive
carcinomas. The incidence of positive responses to CA 125
ands CEA fell between that of benign and malignant
tumors. The marker pattern did not correlate with
tumor stage and cytological grading. The
biological behavior of ovarian borderline
tumors ranges between that of benign
tumors and invasive
carcinomas and cannot be classified as definitely belonging to either group. It is plausible that they are primarily of the borderline type, and not benign
tumors that undergo malignant degeneration.