title: Serum soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP): a potential diagnostic and monitoring marker for epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the potential and diagnostic performance of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) as a tumor marker for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera were obtained from 78 EOC patients, 84 benign ovarian tumor patients, 58 healthy volunteers, and 22/78 EOC patients 1 week after surgery. SMRP levels and diagnostic performance were assessed by ELISA using the MESOMARK kit. The combination of SMRP and CA125 in the diagnosis of EOC was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SMRP concentrations were higher in EOC patients than in benign tumor patients and healthy volunteers, and SMRP levels were shown to decrease in EOC patients after surgery. Histological EOC subtypes showed significant differences in SMRP levels. Stage III-IV patients had a higher level of SMRP than stage I-II patients (P < 0.001). Elevated SMRP levels were also found in higher grade tumors (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve for SMRP was 0.891. The best statistical cut-off for SMRP was 1.3109 nM, with 0.821 sensitivity and 0.979 specificity. When compared with CA125, SMRP performed better in specificity, omission diagnostic rate, positive predictive value, and correction rate, but worse for sensitivity and negative predictive value. The combination of SMRP and CA125 gave a sensitivity of 98.4 % and a specificity of 88.9 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum SMRP is a promising marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of EOC, especially in combination with CA125.
authors.affiliation: Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Bethune International Peace Hospital, 398 West Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050081, Hebei, People's Republic of China, xiaohuawu65@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Dongxiu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bojun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hongxia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000090204:Mesothelin; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D000090204:Mesothelin