title: HE4 combined with MDCT imaging is a good marker in the evaluation of disease extension in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the expression of the biomarkers CA125 and HE4 combined with imaging, in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Forty-six women with EOC were included in the study all affected with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Twenty-two of 46 patients (group I) had peritoneal carcinomatosis with small implants in single or in multiple sites (score 1); 24/46 patients (group II) had macro-nodular implants and omental thickening (score 2). High levels of CA125 (350 ± 11, mean ± SEM) have been observed in 21/22 patients of group I, and a similar value (370 ± 13) has been observed in all patients belonging to group II. HE4 positivity values (350 ± 9) have been observed in all group I patients, whereas all patients belonging to group II showed a higher value of HE4 (600 ± 12). Statistically significant differences were observed between the HE4 levels observed in group I patients in comparison with group II patients (p < 0.0001). In addition, we expressed the extension of lymph nodal disease in three scores: L1-L2-L3, and a statistically significant correlation was observed between high HE4 levels and severity of lymph nodal disease L3 (p < 0.0001). The availability of biomarkers, particularly HE4, together with sophisticated imaging techniques, strengthens the clinical relevance of this study, for the follow-up of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Midulla
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manganaro
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Viggiani
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Granato
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anastasi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011379:Prognosis; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081102:WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D011506:Proteins; D000081102:WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2; C569698:WFDC2 protein, human