Investigating the clinical potential for 14-3-3 zeta protein to serve as a biomarker for epithelial ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Recently, 14-3-3 zeta protein was identified as a potential serum biomarker of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical potential of 14-3-3 zeta protein for monitoring EOC progression compared with CA-125 and HE4.


METHODS
Prospective follow-up study.


METHODS
University of Pecs Medical Center Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology/Oncology (Pecs, Hungary).


METHODS
Thirteen EOC patients with advanced stage (FIGO IIb-IIIc) epithelial ovarian cancer that underwent radical surgery and received six consecutive cycles of first line chemotherapy (paclitaxel, carboplatin) in 21-day intervals.


METHODS
Pre- and post-chemotherapy computed tomography (CT) scans were performed. Serum levels of CA-125, HE4, and 14-3-3 zeta protein were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and quantitative electrochemiluminescence assay (ECLIA).


METHODS
Serum levels of CA-125, HE4, and 14-3-3 zeta protein, as well as lesion size according to pre- and post-chemotherapy CT scans.


RESULTS
Serum levels of CA-125 and HE4 were found to significantly decrease following chemotherapy, and this was consistent with the decrease in lesion size detected post-chemotherapy. In contrast, 14-3-3 zeta protein levels did not significantly differ in healthy postmenopausal patients versus EOC patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Determination of CA-125 and HE4 serum levels for the determination of the risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) represents a useful tool for the prediction of chemotherapy efficacy for EOC patients. However, levels of 14-3-3 zeta protein were not found to vary significantly as a consequence of treatment. Therefore we question if 14-3-3 zeta protein is a reliable biomarker, which correlates with the clinical behavior of EOC.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pecs, Clinical Center, Edesanyak Str, 17, 7624 Pecs, Hungary. dr.hatzipetros@yahoo.com.
Ioannis
I
Hatzipetros
Peter
P
Gocze
Tamas
T
Koszegi
Akos
A
Jaray
Laszlo
L
Szereday
Beata
B
Polgar
Nelli
N
Farkas
Balint
B
Farkas