title: [Macrophage-colony stimulating factor and ovarian cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study the use of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) as tumor marker for ovarian cancer is evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were obtained from 74 patients, 43 of these were affected by ovarian carcinoma and 31 by benign ovarian tumors. The M-CSF levels were assayed with an ELISA method and compared with those of 148 healthy women. CA 125 levels were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In healthy women the M-CSF levels were 770.4 +/- 145.9 U/ml, the upper limit of normal level was considered 1056 U/ml. Serum M-CSF levels were significantly high in patients with ovarian cancer (1425.3 +/- 1007.1 U/ml; p < 0.001) and in 29 of the 43 patients exceeded the limit of 1056 U/ml. No differences were observed among the histologic types. There were no significant differences between patients with benign ovarian pathology and healthy women. No definite relationship was found with CA 125, but evaluating at the same time M-CSF and CA 125 positive results were found in 95.3% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therefore M-CSF can be considered a marker for ovarian cancer, and the assay of its serum levels can be particularly useful in association with those of CA 125.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica, Seconda Università degli Studi, Napoli.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menditto
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Piscittelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cassese
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Balbi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balbi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardone
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003884:Dermoid Cyst / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor