title: Use of lysophosphatidic acid in the management of benign and malignant ovarian tumors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish whether LPA determination improves the differentiation of benign from malignant ovarian tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total LPA and LPA species in the serum were determined using a novel method in 142 patients with ultrasound (US) suspecious ovarian tumors and in 78 healthy women. All women underwent determination of CA125 in the serum, a vaginal US examination and morphology scoring of the tumor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of total LPA and its species in women with ovarian tumors were significantly higher from those in healthy women (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the levels of total LPA or any of its species between the women with benign and those with malignant ovarian tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Determination of serum LPA would be an appropriate test for ovarian tumor presence, especially in women of reproductive age. The method however does not differentiate benign from malignant ovarian tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pozlep
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meleh
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kobal
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Verdenik
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osredkar
authors.forename: L Z
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Kralj
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meden-Vrtovec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D008246:Lysophospholipids; C032881:lysophosphatidic acid