Blood CA125 Levels Predict Heart Complications After Acute Coronary Syndrome | Research

The takeaway

Higher plasma CA125 at hospital admission correlated with cardiac troponin and proBNP levels and may help identify ACS patients at higher risk of major cardiac events over six months.

r = 0.423 with proBNP
CA125 showed moderate correlation with heart stress biomarker in acute coronary syndrome patients

What the researchers found

Plasma CA125 correlated significantly with hs-cTn (r=0.315) and proBNP (r=0.423) and weakly inversely with LVEF (r=−0.186) in ACS patients.

Why it matters

Better risk stratification after heart attacks helps clinicians prioritize aggressive treatment for high-risk patients. CA125 is widely available and inexpensive, making it a practical addition to the biomarker toolkit.

How the study worked

Prospective cohort study of 127 ACS patients in a coronary care unit with single-admission CA125 measurement and 6-month follow-up for MACE.

What this study cannot tell us

Small single-center study with only 127 patients. Single CA125 measurement may miss dynamic changes. The study shows correlation, not causation or independent predictive value.

How to read the evidence

Small prospective cohort showing biomarker correlation; larger studies needed to confirm independent predictive value for MACE.

When this study was published

Published in 2026 with data from 2022.

The bigger picture

This joins a growing body of evidence repurposing CA125—long known as a cancer marker—as a cardiovascular biomarker, particularly in heart failure and now acute coronary syndrome.

Questions still open

Does CA125 add independent predictive value beyond troponin and proBNP for cardiac events?
Would serial CA125 measurements improve risk prediction compared to a single admission value?
Is the CA125-cardiac association driven by inflammation, fluid overload, or another mechanism?

Common questions

Is CA125 a cancer marker being used for heart disease?

Yes—CA125 is traditionally used in ovarian cancer screening, but emerging research shows it is elevated in cardiovascular conditions too, possibly reflecting inflammation or fluid stress on the heart.

Should doctors order CA125 for heart attack patients?

Not yet as routine practice. This small study suggests it may add value, but larger trials are needed before CA125 can be recommended alongside established cardiac biomarkers like troponin and BNP.

Read the original research

Plasma CA125 Levels as a Predictor of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Six-month Follow-up Study.

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association, 38(1), 6

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Çolak, Nazlı Dilek; Karabağ, Turgut; Çalışkan, Onuralp; Tezcan, Songül. (2026). Plasma CA125 Levels as a Predictor of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Six-month Follow-up Study.. Journal of the Saudi Heart Association, 38(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.37616/2212-5043.1478