URGENT RESPONSE REQUIRED TODAY - CA125 Patients'/Caregivers' Views

Correspondence received today (May 31st, 2009:

Dear Sandi,


I cover biotechnology for the New York Times. I’m covering a study being presented at ASCO today showing that using CA-125 to check for recurrence and then treating when CA-125 starts to rise does not provide any survival benefit over just waiting for symptoms and starting treatment then. The lead investigator said there would thus be no need for women to constantly have their CA-125 tested, saying it only leads to anxiety and increased chemo without any benefit. He seemed to suggest that women, particularly in the US, have almost a “CA-125 psychosis’’ obsessing over their test scores. (This study does not refer to using CA125 to monitor therapy, only to detect recurrence.


I’m wondering if you or someone such as a woman with ovarian cancer would be willing to comment on this. Even if they don’t know the study results in detail I’m interested in the phenomenon, if it’s true, of constantly testing for CA-125.


The deadline is today so I would have to speak to people by about 5 p.m. eastern time today. My number is below so you or anyone can call me directly. Or reply by email.


Thanks for any help you can provide.

Best regards,

Andrew Pollack
Biotechnology reporter
The New York Times
917-679-5920

pollack@nytimes.com