Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) level difference in benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumor

Abstract

Background: Malignant ovarian tumor is one of the most common types of cancer in women worldwide, and most patients come with advanced stage. Until now, a pre-operative diagnostic method to determine malignant ovarian tumor was considered unsatisfying. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) allegedly plays a role in proliferation and metastasis of the cancer cells, so it is important to explore the difference of serum NGAL levels between benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumor.Aim: to determine the characteristics of patients with benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumor, histologic types, and serum NGAL levels difference in benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumor.Method: This was a comparative analytic study with a cross-sectional design. Forty patients were chosen with consecutive sampling; each group consists of 20 female patients who will undergo primary surgery for suspicious of benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumor. A blood sample was collected one day prior to the surgery and confirmed with histopathologic examination after surgery.Results: most of the patients aged 20-50 years old, had ≥1 child and the most common histopathology type of malignant epithelial ovarian tumor was mucinous adenocarcinoma while the majority of the benign epithelial ovarian tumor was endometriotic cyst. The median rate of NGAL in the malignant epithelial ovarian tumor was 219.5 ng/ml, higher than median rate of NGAL in benign epithelial ovarian tumor with 132.5 ng/ml, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The median rate of NGAL in malignant epithelial ovarian tumor according to the stage of disease showed no significant difference.Conclusion: A new diagnostic criteria of epithelial ovarian tumor needs to be considered which include NGAL as one of the screening components.