Biomarker-based early detection of epithelial ovarian cancer based on a 5-protein signature in patients serum

Objective Unicentric analysis of a study on 5 serum biomarkers (CA 125, HE 4, OPN, Leptin, Prolactin) and their possible role in discriminating benign from malignant ovarian tumours.

Methods Preoperative blood samples of 43 women with ovarian tumours destined for ovarian surgery were analysed on expression of CA 125, HE 4, OPN, Leptin and Prolactin via density gradient centrifugation plus subsequent multiplex analysis of the proteins. A logistical regression model was used to calculate the discriminative ability of the biomarkers.

Results Serum CA-125 was confirmed as highly accurate tumour marker in ovarian cancer. CA 125, HE 4, OPN, Leptin and Prolactin serumlevels were used to develope a 5-protein-panel formula to calculate the probability of having a malignant ovarian tumour. It shows to be a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic test for a malignant ovarian tumour with an AUC of 0.96.

Conclusions The calculated formula from CA 125, HE 4, OPN, Leptin and Prolactin Serum levels surpasses each single marker in its diagnostic capacity of ovarian cancer. The formula applied to our patient population was a highly accurate diagnostic tool for estimating dignity of an ovarian mass and needs to be validated in a bigger cohort.

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Publication History

Article published online:
07 October 2020