Abstract: Ovarian cancer is the first leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Because of early stage ovarian cancer′s hidden clinical symptoms, we lack effective early diagnostic methods causing more than 70% of patients diagnosed at advanced stage. Early stage ovarian cancer is associated with a 5-year survival rate of 70%-90%, 5-year survival rate for patients with advanced ovarian cancer is only 20%. Therefore, early diagnosis of ovarian cancer has an important impact on prognosis. In recent years, people committed to search for serum tumor markers of high specificity and sensitivity such as CA125, HE4, SMRP, CA72-4, Hk, OPN, and combined detection as well. Also they have made a series of progress which will be reviewed in this article.

Key words: Ovarian carcinoma, Early diagnosis, Serum tumor markers, CA125