This study estimated the clinical value of tumour specific growth factor (TSGF) and carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA-125) in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma. Blood was collected from the peripheral and uterine veins of endometrial cancer patients, and serum TSGF and CA-125 levels were compared with those in uterine myoma patients (non-tumour controls) and normal women. Significantly higher levels of TSGF and TGSF-positive rates were observed in endometrial cancer patients versus non-tumour and normal controls. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting TGSF-positive rates in the endometrial carcinoma group were 64.9% and 62.5%, respectively. The TSGF levels in uterine blood were significantly higher than in peripheral blood and the TSGF-positive rate was also higher. The TSGF levels gradually increased with progression through the clinical stages and pathological grades of endometrial carcinoma. The sensitivity and specificity of combined TSGF and CA-125 for detecting endometrial cancer were 75.7% and 56.3%, respectively. It is concluded that there is an important correlation between serum levels of TSGF, CA-125 and endometrial cancer and that measurement of both TSGF and CA-125 combined would be of value in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma.