Microscopic view of ovarian cancer cells with glowing LPA molecules.

Ovarian Cancer Detection: Is LPA the New CA-125?

Nico Varela in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unveiling the Potential of Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) in Early Diagnosis and Monitoring"

Ovarian cancer is a formidable foe, often detected late due to its subtle early symptoms. This reality underscores the critical need for reliable biomarkers that can facilitate earlier diagnosis and improve patient outcomes. For years, the serum CA-125 test has been a standard tool in monitoring the disease, but its limitations in early detection have prompted researchers to explore new avenues.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a naturally occurring phospholipid with diverse biological activities, has emerged as a promising candidate in this quest. Found in the bloodstream and produced during platelet activation, LPA's involvement in cell growth, proliferation, and suppression of apoptosis has sparked interest in its potential role in cancer diagnostics and monitoring.

A groundbreaking study aimed to evaluate LPA's efficacy as a tumor marker in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), comparing its performance against the established CA-125 test. This research sought to determine whether LPA could offer a more sensitive and specific measure for early detection and therapeutic monitoring, potentially transforming the landscape of ovarian cancer management.

LPA vs. CA-125: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Microscopic view of ovarian cancer cells with glowing LPA molecules.

The study meticulously compared LPA and CA-125 levels in a cohort of 87 EOC patients, 74 patients with benign ovarian tumors, and 50 healthy women. Researchers measured preoperative LPA and CA-125 levels, and then monitored these levels in 29 EOC patients undergoing chemotherapy. This comprehensive approach allowed for a robust comparison of the two biomarkers' diagnostic and monitoring capabilities.

The results revealed that preoperative LPA levels were significantly higher in EOC patients compared to those with benign tumors and healthy controls, mirroring the trends observed with CA-125. A cut-off value of 1.3 µmol/L for LPA yielded an impressive 95% sensitivity and 92% specificity. This suggests that LPA could indeed serve as a highly effective tool for distinguishing between cancerous and non-cancerous conditions.

Sensitivity: The ability of the test to correctly identify those with the disease (true positive rate).
Specificity: The ability of the test to correctly identify those without the disease (true negative rate).
Positive Predictive Value (PPV): The probability that individuals with a positive test result truly have the disease.
Negative Predictive Value (NPV): The probability that individuals with a negative test result truly do not have the disease.

However, the study also shed light on LPA's limitations in therapeutic monitoring. While CA-125 levels demonstrated a significant negative correlation with chemotherapy administration (indicating a decrease in tumor activity), LPA levels showed only a slight, statistically insignificant decrease. This suggests that LPA may not be as reliable as CA-125 in tracking treatment response.

The Future of Ovarian Cancer Diagnostics

While LPA holds promise as a diagnostic marker for ovarian cancer, further research is needed to fully elucidate its role in therapeutic monitoring and patient outcomes. Future studies should explore the potential of combining LPA with other biomarkers or imaging techniques to enhance diagnostic accuracy and personalized treatment strategies. These efforts could pave the way for earlier detection, more effective treatment, and ultimately, improved survival rates for women battling ovarian cancer.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3802/jgo.2010.21.4.248, Alternate LINK

Title: Comparison Of Total Plasma Lysophosphatidic Acid And Serum Ca-125 As A Tumor Marker In The Diagnosis And Follow-Up Of Patients With Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Subject: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Journal: Journal of Gynecologic Oncology

Publisher: Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology; Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology and Colposcopy

Authors: Tugan Bese, Merve Barbaros, Elif Baykara, Onur Guralp, Salih Cengiz, Fuat Demirkiran, Cevdet Sanioglu, Macit Arvas

Published: 2010-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), and why is it being researched in relation to ovarian cancer?

Lysophosphatidic acid, or LPA, is a naturally occurring phospholipid found in the bloodstream. It is involved in various biological activities such as cell growth, proliferation, and the suppression of apoptosis. Its potential lies in being a biomarker that could assist in the early diagnosis and monitoring of ovarian cancer.

What is the current standard test for monitoring ovarian cancer, and why are researchers looking for alternatives like LPA?

CA-125 is a serum test that has been a standard tool used in monitoring ovarian cancer. However, it has limitations, particularly in early detection. Research has focused on finding new biomarkers like LPA to improve early diagnosis. The significance lies in the possibility of detecting ovarian cancer earlier and improving patient outcomes.

How did LPA levels compare in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients versus those with benign tumors and healthy individuals?

In the study, preoperative LPA levels were significantly higher in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients compared to those with benign tumors and healthy controls, similar to CA-125 trends. With a cut-off value of 1.3 µmol/L, LPA demonstrated 95% sensitivity and 92% specificity, suggesting it could be highly effective in distinguishing between cancerous and non-cancerous conditions. Sensitivity refers to correctly identifying those with the disease, while specificity refers to correctly identifying those without the disease. Also defined were Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV).

Is LPA effective for monitoring treatment response in ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy?

While LPA shows promise as a diagnostic marker, it may not be as reliable as CA-125 in tracking treatment response. The study indicated that LPA levels showed only a slight, statistically insignificant decrease with chemotherapy administration, whereas CA-125 levels demonstrated a significant negative correlation. This means CA-125 is better at indicating a decrease in tumor activity during treatment.

What are the next steps in researching LPA's role in ovarian cancer diagnostics and treatment?

Future research should explore combining LPA with other biomarkers or imaging techniques to enhance diagnostic accuracy and create more personalized treatment strategies for ovarian cancer. This could lead to earlier detection, more effective treatment, and improved survival rates. Other biomarkers could help overcome limitations of using LPA alone.