Creative Biolabs is a world-leading service provider of application-specific antibody development. Here, we introduce our in vitro diagnostic (IVD) antibody development and immunoassay development services targeting the CA125 marker. We are confident that our commitment to science and research will enable us to offer you the best products and services.
Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125)
Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) also known as mucin 16 or MUC16, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MUC16 gene. It belongs to the mucin family glycoproteins. It has been found that CA125 is elevated in the blood of the patients suffering from certain types of cancer or other benign conditions and can, therefore, be used as a tumor marker.
CA125 is an integral part of the ocular surface (including the cornea and conjunctiva), the respiratory tract and the epithelia of the female reproductive tract. Due to its high glycosylation, CA125 forms a hydrophilic environment and acts as a lubricant barrier against foreign particles and infectious agents on the apical membrane of epithelial cells. In addition, the cytoplasmic tail of MUC16 has been shown to interact with the cytoskeleton by binding members of the ERM protein family. It has been shown that the expression of mucin 16 is altered in dry eye, cystic fibrosis and several types of cancer.
Fig.1 The role of CA125 in the diagnostic of ovarian cancer.
CA125 Marker of Ovarian Cancer
The expression of CA-125 has been found to be altered in cystic fibrosis, dry eye, and several types of cancers. CA-125 participates in advancing tumorigenesis and tumor proliferation via several different mechanisms. One approach that CA-125 contributes to tumor growth is by suppressing the response of natural killer cells, thus protecting tumor cells from the immune response. CA-125 is also supposed to be involved in cell-to-cell interactions which enable the metastasis of tumor cells. It can selectively bind to mesothelin, which is a glycoprotein commonly expressed on the mesothelial cells of the peritoneum.
Fig.2 Common tumor markers used in the diagnosis of cancer.
CA125 is the most commonly used biomarker for ovarian cancer detection. The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology have recommended routine CA125 screening or other screening for women at average risk of ovarian cancer. About 90% of women with advanced ovarian cancer have elevated serum levels of CA125, making CA-125 a useful tool for detecting ovarian cancer after the onset of symptoms. Monitoring CA125 serum levels can also be used to determine how ovarian cancer responds to treatment and predict the prognosis of the patient after treatment. This is because the persistence of high levels of CA125 during treatment is associated with poor patient survival. In addition, an increase in CA125 levels in individuals in remission is a strong predictor of recurrence of ovarian cancer. In fact, the increase in CA125 levels may precede clinical evidence of disease recurrence at intervals of 3 to 6 months.
CA125 Marker of Other Gynecological Disease
The specificity of CA125 for ovarian cancer is limited because elevated levels of CA125 can be found in individuals without ovarian cancer. It may also be elevated in other cancers, such as lung cancer, fallopian tube cancer, endometrial cancer, gastrointestinal cancer and breast cancer. CA125 may also be elevated in several relatively benign conditions including endometriosis, ovaries, menstruation, and pregnancy. In the presence of inflammation in the abdominal region, as well as in cirrhosis and diabetes mellitus, it also tends to increase. Therefore, the CA125 test is not completely specific for ovarian cancer and often leads to false positives.
IVD Antibody Development Services for CA125 Marker
In recent years, IVD technologies are undergoing rapid development. IVD antibodies have been widely used in the diagnosis of numerous diseases. Antibody-based immunoassays are the most generally used diagnostic assays for the detection of biomolecules. With advanced technology and professional scientists, Creative Biolabs is capable of offering a full range of IVD antibody development services against various markers for global customers. Besides, Creative Biolabs provides one-stop diagnostic immunoassay development services, including feasibility analysis, assay design, assay protocol establishment, validation, and production.
If you are interested in our IVD antibody discovery services, please contact us for more details.
For Research Use Only.
