title: Alternative tumor markers in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of various tumor markers (CA125, HE4, bcl2) measured in serum, urine and saliva in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses.
  
  
  
  Our study was conducted at the Başkent University Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey, between November 2010 and March 2011. Fifty patients with a suspicion of malignant adnexal mass and 30 controls were included in the study. Serum and urine CA-125, HE4, and bcl2 levels were evaluated for their role in the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).
  
  
  
  Serum CA-125 and HE4 levels, and urine HE4 levels were significantly higher in malignant cases as compared to controls (p < 0.05). Mean levels of bcl2 in saliva and urine were similar in malignant cases and controls (p > 0.05).
  
  
  
  We demonstrated that serum CA125, serum HE4 and urine HE4 levels were elevated in patients with ovarian cancer. These findings should be assessed in future studies with larger sample sizes in order to reach more definite conclusions.
authors.forename: Burcu Kısa
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.affiliation: eralpbaser@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Eralp
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Başer
authors.forename: Berk
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bildacı
authors.forename: Esra Çabuk
authors.initials: EÇ
authors.lastname: Cömert
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bayraktar
authors.forename: Polat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dursun
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kuşçu
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D000081102:WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D011506:Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D000081102:WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2; C569698:WFDC2 protein, human
keywords: CA125; HE4; adnexal mass; bcl2; ovarian cancer; tumor marker