Use of HE4 expression in plasma to predict operative outcome in patients with ovarian cancer (OC).

Abstract

5022 Background: OC is the major cause of death due to gynecological malignancies. Its treatment consists in cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum based chemotherapy. The most important prognostic factor for overall and disease free survival is the residual tumor mass after surgery. Aim of our study is to analyze the role of HE4 in predicting surgical outcome. Methods: Between February 2005 and December 2008 302 consecutive patients with epithelial OC were enrolled. Samples were obtained from the European, multicentric prospective project OVCAD. OC patients were eligible if radical cytoreductive surgery was performed and standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin was applied. A prospective intra- and postoperative documentation was used. Plasma and ascites samples were collected before or during surgery. HE4 concentrations were determined using the ELISA technique. Results: Median age at the time of diagnosis was 58 years (range 18-85 years). Most patients presented with advanced stage dis...