Abstract
Heat stable fraction (HSF) of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was evaluated as an adjunct to CA 125 as a tumour marker for epithelial ovarian cancer in a follow-up study. In our study group 63.4% of patients had elevated HSF levels (≥10U/L) and 93.3% had elevated CA 125 levels (>35U/mL). The sensitivity of CA 125 and HSF was 93.3% and 63.3% respectively. The decline in the activity of HSF, over the pre-op levels was highly significant after the first (p=0.001) chemotherapy cycle and significant after the second and third cycles (p<0.029). Thereafter, HSF activity was almost undetectable. The decrease in CA 125 levels over the pre-op levels was significant after the first, second, third (p<0.001) and fourth (p<0.034) chemotherapy cycle. HSF can be used alone or as an adjunct to CA 125 in screening and monitoring patients of ovarian carcinoma especially in remote areas where sophisticated facilities are not available and in patients in which CA 125 levels are not raised preoperatively.