Clinical value of CA125, CA72-4 and HE4 detection in the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical values of combined detection of serum CA125, CA72-4 and HE4 levels in the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Methods The serum levels of CA125, CA72-4 and HE4 in 111 patients with ovarian cancer, 130 patients with benign ovarian disease and 90 healthy female controls were measured by electrochemical luminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. The diagnostic values of the three markers were analyzed separately and combinedly in ovarian cancer. Results The serum levels of CA125, CA72-4 and HE4 of ovarian cancer patients were significantly higher than those of benign ovarian disease patients and healthy controls(Ps ＜ 0. 01). The positive expression rate of HE4(63.5%) in patients with stage Ⅰ ovarian cancer was significantly higher than that of CA125(55. 8%) and CA72-4 (42. 6%)(Ps ＜ 0. 05) . The combined detection of the three markers may improve the overall accuracy of the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer to 75.8%. The diagnostic sensitivity of serum CA125 was relatively higher in serous cystadenocarcinoma, endometrioid carcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma; the diagnostic sensitivity of serum CA72-4 was relatively higher in mucinous cystadenocarcinoma and endometrioid carcinoma; the diagnostic sensitivity of serum HE4 was relatively higher in serous cystadenocarcinoma and endometrioid carcinoma. Conclusion CA125 can serve as the first choice of tumor maker in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and the combined detection of serum levels of CA125, CA72-4 and HE4 may increase the diagnostic sensitivity of stage Ⅰ ovarian cancer. Key words: Ovarian cancer; Early diagnosis; Serum tumor maker