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Journal of Ovarian Research
Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research

The plasma concentration of VEGF, HE4 and CA125 as a new biomarkers panel in different stages and sub-types of epithelial ovarian tumors

Authors: Sławomir Ławicki, Grażyna Ewa Będkowska, Ewa Gacuta-Szumarska, Maciej Szmitkowski

Published in: Journal of Ovarian Research | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

VEGF may play a role in the pathogenesis of cancer disease, for example in cell growth, proliferation and angiogenesis. In this study, we investigated plasma levels of this cytokine in comparison to plasma levels of a new biomarker - HE4 and the established tumor marker CA125 in ovarian cancer patients (100) as compared to control groups: patients with a benign ovarian tumor (80) and healthy subjects (50).

Methods

Plasma levels of VEGF were determined by ELISA, HE4 and CA125 by CMIA method.

Results

The results showed that levels of VEGF, CA125 and HE4 were significantly higher in ovarian cancer (OC) patients as compared to the both control groups. VEGF has demonstrated as high as comparative markers values of the diagnostic sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), the predictive values of positive and negative test results (PV-PR, PV-NR), and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) in early stages of cancer tested groups. The combined use of parameters studied resulted in the increase in the diagnostic criteria values and the AUC.

Conclusions

These findings suggest the usefulness of VEGF in the early diagnostics of ovarian cancer, especially in combination with CA125 and HE4, as a new biomarkers panel. Additionally, VEGF is the most useful tool in the diagnostics of locally advanced ovarian cancer without metastases. Investigated cytokine presented similar to HE4 usefulness in differentiation of OC according to its histopathlogical sub-type, and could be used especially in the diagnostics of endometrioid epithelial OC.
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Metadata
Title
The plasma concentration of VEGF, HE4 and CA125 as a new biomarkers panel in different stages and sub-types of epithelial ovarian tumors
Authors
Sławomir Ławicki
Grażyna Ewa Będkowska
Ewa Gacuta-Szumarska
Maciej Szmitkowski
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Ovarian Research / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1757-2215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-2215-6-45

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