Avastin & ca125

nancy591
nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
Still waiting for a response from my doc in NYC but I read this on another board:

"I read somewhere that if you are on Avastin, CA 125 number may not be the best indicator of how you are doing. Is it true? if so, does CA 125 stay elevated even if you are making a progress or does it stay low even if there is no clear progress?"

"I am on avastin every other week and daily cytoxin. My Ca 125 level was increasing with the avastin despite the CT evidence showing the cancer shrinking.
For now we are not using CA 125 checks. I'm thinking my chemo nurses just commented about a study confirming this in other women."

"I am thrilled to be on Avastin as of this very moment due to lack of side effects, but my CA125 goes up a 1000, then down a 1000. Most recent CA125 showed tumor markers going up almost a 1000 a week. I am at 6,000 right now. I understand that the CA125 is distorted with Avastin so I am just enjoying this moment of no obvious side effects. My onc has explained why the CA125 is eschewed, but my chemo brain forgot his answer! Will ask again and will write it down. But he did say that long term trends upward were a fairly true indication that the Avastin is not working. I may be screwed..."

I guess the 1000 point rise is not uncommon. Sheesh. When I was initally diagnosed I was at 720 and that was with a full blown bowel obstruction. I've never been that high since.

Comments

  • Disneynutt
    Disneynutt Member Posts: 134 Member
    #2
    I can just imagine how that
    I can just imagine how that must have blown your mind. It certainly would set anybody back on their heels. I was on Avastin and it did not mess with my CA125 levels but I've also read where it affects most people's levels so it is no longer a good indicator. And besides, you've said all along that the CA125 was not a good indicator for you anyway.

    Oh I hope you aren't screwed!!! It was the only thing that worked for me and I want it to work for you too. Do you have any side effects? I had a lot but then I don't know if they were caused by Avastin or Taxotere.

    I just heard from MD Anderson and I have an appointment on Feb. 15. We shall see what we shall see. :-)

    I wish you the best Nancy...

    -Kate
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #3
    Disneynutt said:

    I can just imagine how that
    I can just imagine how that must have blown your mind. It certainly would set anybody back on their heels. I was on Avastin and it did not mess with my CA125 levels but I've also read where it affects most people's levels so it is no longer a good indicator. And besides, you've said all along that the CA125 was not a good indicator for you anyway.

    Oh I hope you aren't screwed!!! It was the only thing that worked for me and I want it to work for you too. Do you have any side effects? I had a lot but then I don't know if they were caused by Avastin or Taxotere.

    I just heard from MD Anderson and I have an appointment on Feb. 15. We shall see what we shall see. :-)

    I wish you the best Nancy...

    -Kate

    thanks
    Most of the above info above was from another board. My ca125 did take a giant leap though. My doc says it can happen but eventually he'd like to see it go down. Did your ca125 drop right away?

    Thanks!
  • Lisa13Q
    Lisa13Q Member Posts: 677
    #4
    nancy591 said:

    thanks
    Most of the above info above was from another board. My ca125 did take a giant leap though. My doc says it can happen but eventually he'd like to see it go down. Did your ca125 drop right away?

    Thanks!

    Hi Nancy
    I changed my photo for you...It's a cancer hawk....it's going to go after everyone's cancer!!! I am glad you receive some satisfaction but I wish Dr. S would call you back. I went to PubMed today and looked at some of the side effects of avastin. Wow, it's a powerful drug...and you're taking it with something as well, right? My understanding is that a 1000 rise in CA-125 in such a short amount of time is atypical of OVCA growth...and to be interpreted very cautiously. Of course, the best way to know is to do scans, but....it is not highly likely that the CA-125 is a good indicator for you....either direction....I hope this helps....please keep us posted....
  • nancy591
    nancy591 Member Posts: 1,027 Member
    #5
    Lisa13Q said:

    Hi Nancy
    I changed my photo for you...It's a cancer hawk....it's going to go after everyone's cancer!!! I am glad you receive some satisfaction but I wish Dr. S would call you back. I went to PubMed today and looked at some of the side effects of avastin. Wow, it's a powerful drug...and you're taking it with something as well, right? My understanding is that a 1000 rise in CA-125 in such a short amount of time is atypical of OVCA growth...and to be interpreted very cautiously. Of course, the best way to know is to do scans, but....it is not highly likely that the CA-125 is a good indicator for you....either direction....I hope this helps....please keep us posted....

    thanks!
    I did speak with the nurse yesterday. I was told the cytoxan is probably the cause of my AST and ALT levels rising. These rises can make the ca125 rise slightly. I was also told Avastin can make the ca125 unreliable. It is not unusual to have a large spike. That being said, they would want to see the level eventually going down. Since I have no change in symptoms they will go ahead with the 3rd infusion and then scan.
  • antcat
    antcat Member Posts: 270
    #6
    nancy591 said:

    thanks!
    I did speak with the nurse yesterday. I was told the cytoxan is probably the cause of my AST and ALT levels rising. These rises can make the ca125 rise slightly. I was also told Avastin can make the ca125 unreliable. It is not unusual to have a large spike. That being said, they would want to see the level eventually going down. Since I have no change in symptoms they will go ahead with the 3rd infusion and then scan.

    CA 125 & Avastin
    Hi Nancy, I know it can be very worrisome when the CA 125 rises. I, too, am on Avastin and Cytoxan. I'm going for my 3rd treatment next week. So far my CA 125 went down, but I don't put too much on the CA 125 test. I don't think it's a reliable tumor marker. When my gyn/oncologist used to order my blood work, he always did a CA 125 and HE 4 test. The HE4 test is a newer blood test and is used in conjunction with the CA 125. I think it's supposed to be a little more reliable. But, they haven't even suggested that yet at MSK. I'm probably going to ask the dr. about it next week. You said you haven't had any side effects with the Avastin, is that right? The only problem I'm having is with my hemorrhoids, at times, they do bleed a little, but not all the time. But, that happened the last time I was on Gemzar and after I stopped chemo, I was fine. In the pamphlet they gave me at MSK, hemorrhoid bleeding was a very common side effect. Did you have your 3rd CT scan yet or are they waiting until after your next treatment?

    I hope everything works out good for you and I'll let you know how I make out next week. You have a beautiful family and always keep hopeful.

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