Plasma calprotectin concentrations in women with endometrial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
There is a lack of circulating markers to predict disease outcome, therapy effect and monitoring for disease recurrence in endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to explore whether plasma concentration of the inflammatory marker calprotectin is elevated in endometrial cancer and related to clinical parameters.


METHODS
Calprotectin in EDTA-plasma samples from women with primary endometrial carcinoma (n=194), from healthy premenopausal (n=20) and postmenopausal (n=20) women was analyzed with ELISA.


RESULTS
Median plasma calprotectin concentration was elevated in the patient group of endometrial cancer (3415 microg/L) as compared to the healthy premenopausal (832 microg/L) and postmenopausal groups (868 microg/L), both p<0.001. Also, median calprotectin concentration was elevated in the endometrial cancer group as compared to women with invasive ovarian cancer, borderline ovarian tumor and benign ovarian tumors. Calprotectin plasma concentration correlated significantly with poor survival and high FIGO stage in endometrial carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Calprotectin is elevated in plasma of women with endometrial carcinoma. Further studies are warranted to assess its possible value as a clinical tool for evaluating disease progression and relapse, as well as in monitoring treatment response.
Ni Bhriain
Hannah
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oslo University Hospital, Ulleval, Oslo, Norway.
Trovik
Jone
J
Wik
Elisabeth
E
Stefansson
Ingunn M
IM
Akslen
Lars A
LA
Salvesen
Helga B
HB
Staff
Anne Cathrine
AC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex