CA125 and heart failure: an update

Tumor biomarkers are used for screening, diagnosis and stratification of malignant diseases, but the role of some specific tumor markers has also been recently explored in patients with heart failure (HF). Of all the tumor biomarkers, carbohydrate antigen125 (CA125) has emerged as a potential biomarker in HF due to its significant correlation with cytokines and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level. It has been demonstrated that CA125 is associated with clinical, hemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters indicative of the severity and therapeutic interventional effect of the disease. This article reviews research progress and clinical use of the tumor marker CA125 in patients with chronic HF.