Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnostic value of the cancer antigen 125(CA125), cancer antigen 199 (CA199)，CEA and AFP in patients with ovarian tumors. METHODS: RIA was used to measure the levels of serum CA125, CA199，CEA and AFP in patients with benign and malignant ovarian tumors. RESULTS: Serum CA125 and CA199 levels were significantly higher in the patients with malignant ovarian tumor than those with benign ovarian tumor(P<0.01), The differences of CEA and AFP levels between benign and malignant ovarian tumors were not significant(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The single detection of CA125 and CA199 may be the best method for diagnosing ovarian tumors, and the detection of AFP and CEA has no value for diagnosing ovarian tumors.

Key words: ovarian tumors, cancer antigen 125, carbohydrate antigen 199, carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha- fetoprotein