Blood test predicts ovarian cancer better than previously thought

This study involving the University of Exeter was led by Dr Garth Funston at the University of Cambridge as part of the CanTest collaborative, and studied more than 50,000 women who had a specific type of blood test with their GP in England.

The test is for women with symptoms possibly caused by ovarian cancer, which are often non-specific, so it can be difficult to judge what might be causing them. It looks for a protein in the blood called Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125), which can be a sign of ovarian cancer. Women with ovarian cancer often have a high level of this protein in their blood, so GPs use this test to help determine if a patient needs referring on for further tests such as ultrasound.

However, this study in primary care showed for the first time that CA125 was not only raised in women later diagnosed with ovarian cancer – around 350 women (10%) with CA125 protein levels at or above the cut-off value had the disease – it also found that more than 380 women with an abnormal CA125 result, instead had another type of cancer such as pancreatic, lung or bowel cancer.

The study also found the proportion of women with an abnormal test who had any cancer, was much higher in women aged 50 or over (33%), than women younger than 50 years of age (6%), suggesting that it is a more useful test to use in the over 50s.

Using both age and the level of protein in the blood, the team have developed models that GPs can use in the future to determine the risk of a woman having cancer, giving GPs a better tool to decide if patients need referring on.

Although the test is currently recommended by NICE and is widely used by GPs to help make a judgement on whether cancer referral is required, no large studies have previously evaluated how well the test performs in a primary care setting – an abnormal CA125 result is 12 times more likely to predict ovarian cancer than was previously thought. This must be considered by NICE when updating guidance.

Professor Willie Hamilton, of the University of Exeter, said: “This paper is helpful in two ways – firstly, it helps GPs when faced with women with unexplained symptoms that might represent ovarian cancer. Secondly, the message is helpful internationally. Few countries use CA125 and women must then travel to hospital for a specialist or an ultrasound. It would be much simpler and better to have an accurate blood test done by their family doctor, and this research is a step in that direction.”

Dr Walter, senior author of the study from the University of Cambridge, said: “This blood test is clearly a useful tool for detecting ovarian cancer in primary care, particularly for women aged 50 or more. Doctors should also consider the possibility of other cancers if the test is abnormal, especially if ovarian cancer has been ruled out, to prevent delays to a diagnosis.

“Our results will help doctors triage women of different ages, selecting those with a higher risk of having cancer for fast referral and further tests. We hope that using the test, in this way, will help diagnose women with cancer earlier, while reducing unnecessary worry in those without the disease.”

Fiona is a science teacher, who lives near Cambridge. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2017 after visiting her doctor with abdominal pain.

Fiona said: “I hadn’t heard of the CA125 blood test before my GP suggested that I have one. Although I was diagnosed at a late stage, the test helped identify the problem – I didn’t even know this test existed before. I’d like to see a day when tests like this are routinely used to help more people have their cancer diagnosed early.

“I was fortunate my surgery, which I received within four weeks of being diagnosed, and chemotherapy worked for me. Now I feel lucky to be around.”

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most common cancer in females in the UK. The chances of survival are much higher for women whose cancer is diagnosed at an early stage.

Diagnosing ovarian cancer at an earlier stage is one of the most effective ways to improve survival. 93% of people diagnosed with ovarian cancer survive their disease for 5 years or more if diagnosed at the earliest stage (stage 1) compared to just 13% when diagnosed at the latest stage (stage 4).

Sadly, the disease is often diagnosed late (stage 3 or 4) when the cancer has already spread further, and someone’s likelihood of surviving is reduced. This is partly because symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal pain and bloating occur frequently in women without ovarian cancer, making it difficult to work out what is going on until it is too late.

Dr Jodie Moffat, Cancer Research UK’s head of early diagnosis, said: “Earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer offers the single biggest opportunity to save lives from the disease. Ovarian cancer is particularly difficult to diagnose, as women often experience symptoms that are difficult to pinpoint or are readily put down to other causes. This research reinforces the value of a readily available test. We encourage GPs to use the CA125 test readily, not only may this help to identify more women at an earlier stage of ovarian cancer, but it could also help to identify other cancers too.

“GP surgeries and hospitals are changing the way they do things to keep patients and staff as safe as possible. Although some people are waiting longer than usual for appointments, we urge anyone who has noticed a change in their health to contact their GP, get their symptoms checked and attend any tests their doctor thinks are needed.”