title: Anti-Hsp20 antibody concentrations inversely correlated with tumor progression in ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the serum concentrations of anti-heat shock protein 20 (anti-Hsp20) antibodies in women with ovarian cancer at different clinical stages, and the relationship between these concentrations and tumor progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 72 patients undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer, 21 women with ovarian carcinoid, and 42 healthy women. Anti-Hsp20 antibody concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean anti-Hsp20 antibody concentrations were significantly lower in patients with ovarian cancer than in the control group. The anti-Hsp20 antibody concentrations were negatively correlated with ovarian cancer malignancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings suggest that anti-Hsp20 antibodies may play a protective role against ovarian cancer progression, and that anti-Hsp20 antibodies may be a new index for the early diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.
authors.forename: Yanhui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qingchao
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Naian
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D050886:HSP20 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D050886:HSP20 Heat-Shock Proteins; C494382:HSPB6 protein, human