CA-125 in Screening Patients at High Risk for Ovarian Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

At high risk for developing ovarian cancer, as determined by meeting criteria for 1 of the following:

Family history of at least 2 ovarian or breast* cancers among the patient and first- and second-degree relatives within the same lineage**

If breast cancer* is required to meet this criterion, at least 1 breast cancer* must be premenopausal (diagnosed at age 50 or under if menopausal status unknown) NOTE: **Multiple primary cancers in the same person satisfies this criterion

Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity and meets criteria for 1 of the following:

Prior breast cancer* diagnosis

One first-degree or 2 second-degree relatives with breast* or ovarian cancer

If breast cancer is required to meet this criterion, at least 1 breast cancer* must be premenopausal (diagnosed at age 50 or under if menopausal status unknown)

Probability of BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation greater than 20%, as determined by BRCAPRO 95% posterior probability interval

This criterion includes the following situations for which BRCAPRO is not required:

Tested positive for a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation (100% probability)
First- or second-degree relative with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation NOTE: *Including ductal carcinoma in situ
No ovarian cancer, including low malignant potential cancers or primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

30 and over

Performance status

Not specified

Life expectancy

Not specified

Hematopoietic

No hemophilia
No other bleeding disorders

Hepatic

Not specified

Renal

Not specified

Pulmonary

No emphysema

Other

Not pregnant
Negative pregnancy test
Fertile patients must use effective contraception
No psychiatric or psychological condition that would preclude giving informed consent
No concurrent untreated malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer
No other medical condition that would preclude blood draws (e.g., chronic infectious disease)

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

Not specified

Chemotherapy

More than 3 months since prior adjuvant chemotherapy for cancer

Endocrine therapy

Concurrent adjuvant hormonal therapy (e.g., tamoxifen, leuprolide, or goserelin) allowed

Radiotherapy

More than 3 months since prior adjuvant radiotherapy for cancer

Surgery

More than 3 months since prior intraperitoneal surgery (laparoscopy or laparotomy)
Prior prophylactic oophorectomy allowed

Other

More than 5 years since prior treatment (excluding hormonal therapy) for metastatic malignancy
No concurrent participation in other ovarian cancer early detection trials