title: Placental protein 4 as a possible tumor marker in ovarian tumors.
abstract: Placental protein 4 (PP-4), a recently characterized glycoprotein from human placenta, was studied using a specific double-antibody radioimmunoassay in sera of 130 volunteers, 76 ovarian tumor patients and in ovarian tumor cyst fluid and ascites of 21 patients. Elevated levels (greater than 3 micrograms/l) were found in 45 of 52 ovarian cancer patients (86.5%). PP-4 levels correlated significantly with staging. 31 patients with malignant ovarian tumor were monitored on 2-9 occasions during 5-82 weeks. Rising or falling levels of PP-4 correlated with progression or regression of disease in 25 of 31 instances (80.6%). Elevated levels were found in 10 of 24 benign and borderline ovarian tumors. Elevated PP-4 level does not indicate malignancy in each case. PP-4 can be regarded as tumor-associated antigen and an tumor marker in oncological practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Göcze
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Szabò
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Than
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Krommer
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Csaba
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bohn
mesh_terms: D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017304:Annexin A5; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D003536:Cystadenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins