Serum levels of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor, and c-erbB2 in ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate serum levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor α (TGF-α), and c-erbB2 in patients with ovarian cancer.


METHODS
In this retrospective cohort study, the study and control groups were composed of 43 women with a prediagnosis of ovarian cancer and 43 healthy women, respectively. Blood samples from all women were obtained and studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits for EGF, TGF-α, and c-erbB2. After surgery of the study group, ovarian cancer was confirmed and compared with control group. Stage, grade, and histological types were defined after histopathologic examination, and subgroups were constructed and compared.


RESULTS
Serum EGF, TGF-α, and c-erbB2 levels were significantly increased in study group compared with those in the control group (P < 0.001). There were no differences in serum levels of EGF, TGF-α, and c-erbB2 among all stages, grades, and histological types of ovarian cancer. If 47.90 pg/mL was selected as the cutoff value, EGF has an 80% sensitivity and a 65% specificity for detecting ovarian cancer. The cutoff value of 41,095.00 pg/mL for TGF-α has a 90% sensitivity and a 72% specificity for detecting ovarian cancer. The c-erbB2 level of 4.63 pg/mL as the cutoff value has an 83% sensitivity and a 76% specificity for predicting ovarian cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of EGF, TGF-α, and c-erbB2 may be used for diagnosing ovarian cancer.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Eray
E
Balcan
Fuat
F
Demirkiran
Yavuz
Y
Aydin
Cevdet
C
Sanioglu
Tugan
T
Bese
Macit
M
Arvas
Tulay
T
Akçay
Tayfur
T
Cift
D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha