联合检测血清糖类抗原标志物在女性绝经前后卵巢浆液性癌诊断中的价值

目的:探讨联合检测血清糖类抗原标志物在女性绝经前后卵巢浆液性癌诊断中的价值。方法:采用回顾性研究方法,选择2016年8月到至2018年2月在我院肿瘤科进行检测的绝经前后卵巢浆液性癌患者60例(癌变组)与绝经前后健康体检者60例(健康对照组),检测其血清癌胚抗原(carcino-embryonic antigen,CEA)、人附睾蛋白4(human epididymis protein 4,HE4)和糖链抗原125(carbohydrate antigen 125,CA125)的水平,并分析其与患者的临床病理特征与随访预后的相关性。结果:癌变组血清CEA、HE4、CA125水平及阳性表达率都均显著高于健康对照组(P0.05)。在癌变组60例患者中,随着病理分期增加、分化程度的减少、淋巴结转移与死亡情况的发生,血清CEA、HE4、CA125的阳性表达率显著升高,对比差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。同时在120例人群中,联合诊断为卵巢浆液性癌者54例,联合诊断的敏感性与特异性分别为90.0%和100.0%。结论:绝经前后女性卵巢浆液性癌患者血清糖类抗原标志物-CEA、HE4、CA12水平均呈现高表达,可能作为绝经前后女性卵巢浆液性癌诊断与预后预测的参考指标。     

上皮性卵巢癌患者CT、MRI影像学特征及与血清标志物CEA、CA199、CA125水平的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨上皮性卵巢癌患者电子计算机断层扫描（CT）、磁共振成像（MRI）影像学特征及与血清标志物癌胚抗原（CEA）、糖类抗原199（CA199）、糖类抗原125（CA125）水平的相关性。方法：回顾性分析2014年4月-2020年2月于我院83例诊断为上皮性卵巢癌患者的CT、MRI影像学资料,以手术病理结果作为金标准。分析患者的CT、MRI影像学特征,检测患者血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平,评价患者CT、MRI影像学特征与血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平的相关性。结果：上皮性卵巢癌肿瘤横截面最大径为14.2mm-121.7mm,平均（18.6±4.3）mm,上皮性卵巢癌以混杂密度/信号为主,形态不规则,病灶多为囊实性,可见壁结节及分隔改变,增强后可见分隔或壁结节明显强化,可伴有腹水、腹膜转移、淋巴结转移。血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平分别为（66.35±7.52）ng/mL、（183.59±22.62）U/mL、（225.27±25.34）U/mL。上皮性卵巢癌边界清晰、不清晰的血清CA199、CA125水平组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;上皮性卵巢癌形态圆形/类圆形/椭圆形、分叶状、形态不规则的血清CA199、CA125水平组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;上皮性卵巢癌患者有壁结节、腹膜转移、淋巴结转移的血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平组间差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;其余CT、MRI影像学表现特征组间血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。上皮性卵巢癌边界与血清CA125水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,上皮性卵巢癌形态与血清CA199、CA125水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,壁结节与血清CA125水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,腹膜转移、淋巴结转移与血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）,其余指标之间无明显相关性（P＞0.05）。结论：上皮性卵巢癌CT、MRI影像表现具有特征性,血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平的检测有助于对早期上皮性卵巢癌的诊断以及不同病理类型的判断,CT、MRI影像学特征与血清CEA、CA199、CA125水平具有相关性,可判断疾病的进展及患者预后情况,对指导临床综合治疗及评估患者预后可提供客观依据。     

Evaluation of proteomics-identified CCL18 and CXCL1 as circulating tumor markers for differential diagnosis between ovarian carcinomas and benign pelvic masses

A lack of sensitive and specific tumor markers for early diagnosis and treatment is a major cause for the high mortality rate of ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study was to identify potential proteomics-based biomarkers useful for the differential diagnosis between ovarian cancer and benign pelvic masses. Serum samples from 41 patients with ovarian cancer, 32 patients with benign pelvic masses, and 41 healthy female blood donors were examined, and proteomic profiling of the samples was assessed by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectroscopy (MS). A confirmatory study was also conducted with serum specimens from 58 patients with ovarian carcinoma, 37 patients with benign pelvic masses, and 48 healthy women. A classification tree was established using Biomarker Pattern Software. Six differentially expressed proteins (APP, CA 125, CCL18, CXCL1, IL-8, and ITIH4) were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MS/MS and database searches. Two of the proteins overexpressed in ovarian cancer patients, chemokine CC2 motif ligand 18 (CCL18) and chemokine CXC motif ligand 1 (CXCL1), were automatically selected in a multivariate predictive model. These two protein biomarkers were then validated and evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 535 serum specimens (130 ovarian cancer, 64 benign ovarian masses, 36 lung cancer, 60 gastric cancer, 55 nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 48 hepatocellular carcinoma, and 142 healthy women). The combined use of CCL18 and CXCL1 as biomarkers for ovarian cancer had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 97%. The multivariate ELISA analysis of the two putative markers in combination with CA 125 resulted in a sensitivity of 99% for healthy women and 94% for benign pelvic masses, and a specificity of 92% for both groups; these values were significantly higher than those obtained with CA 125 alone (p and lt;0.05). We conclude that serum CCL18 and CXCL1 are potentially useful as novel circulating tumor markers for the differential diagnosis between ovarian cancer and benign ovarian masses.     

血清OPN、HE4和CA125检测对卵巢癌的临床意义

目的：探讨联合检测血清OPN、HE4和CA125对卵巢癌的临床意义。方法：选择2010年6月-2012年7月西安市中心医院妇科及陕西省肿瘤医院妇瘤科收治的35例卵巢癌患者、73例卵巢良性肿瘤患者及40例同期体检的健康妇女为研究对象,应用ELISA法检测患者手术前后血清OPN、HE4水平,电化学发光法检测患者手术前后血清CA125水平,计算3种肿瘤标志物单项以及联合检测在卵巢癌诊断中的敏感性及特异性。结果：（1）卵巢癌患者术前血清OPN、HE4和CA125水平分别为94.6±61.06ng/mL、412.3±278.62 pmol/mL和398.64±220.91 U/mL,与卵巢良性肿瘤组及正常对照组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;（2）卵巢癌患者手术前与术后1月血清OPN、HE4和CA125水平比较,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;（3）血清OPN、HE4和CA125水平联合检测诊断卵巢癌的敏感性（94.3%）显著高于血清OPN、HE4和CA125单项指标检测（分别为37.1%、71.4%和77.1%）,联合检测与单项指标检测比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,而血清OPN、HE4和CA125联合检测诊断卵巢癌的特异性（78.8%）稍低于血清OPN、HE4和CA125单项指标检测（分别为87.6%、100%和80.5%）,联合检测与单项指标检测的特异性比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。血清HE4单项指标检测的特异性高达100%。结论：联合检测卵巢癌患者血清OPN、HE4和CA125水平可作为诊断和评估卵巢癌预后的参考指标。     

Tumor antigen NB/70K and CA 125 levels in the blood of preoperative ovarian cancer patients and controls: a preliminary report of the use of the NB12123 and CA 125 radioimmunoassays alone and in combination

The NB12123 and CA125 radioimmunoassays, murine monoclonal antibody assays for measuring circulating levels of human ovarian tumor associated antigens NB/70K and CA 125, respectively, have been previously described. In the present study, preoperative serum samples were obtained from patients undergoing laparotomy for benign neoplastic ovarian tumors (N = 16), cancer of the cervix (N = 22), cancer of the uterus (N = 20), and cancer of the ovary (N = 47). Controls (N = 50) were obtained from healthy blood bank donors. No correlation was observed between the levels of NB/70K and CA 125 in these samples (r2 = .079, linear regression analysis). In general, increasing levels of both antigens were present with increasing tumor burden and higher histological grade. In addition, both markers were most elevated in the serum of ovarian cancer patients with serous and unclassified adenocarcinomas. Using 40 AU and 35 unit cut-offs for the NB/70K and CA 125 assay, respectively, overall specificity for healthy controls and patients with benign diseases approaches 100%. The combined sensitivity of the assays for ovarian cancer patient sera in this study indicates that the assays may be helpful in establishing a pre operative diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Complementarity of the NB/70K and CA 125 assays has been demonstrated, indicating that one or both assays may be used to monitor as many as 85% of ovarian cancer patients.     

血清TC、TG和LDL-C水平与老年卵巢良恶性肿瘤的相关性分析

摘要 目的：探讨与分析血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三脂（TG）和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）水平与老年卵巢良恶性肿瘤的相关性。方法：2018年8月至2021年4月选择在本院诊治的老年卵巢癌患者72例与老年良性卵巢肿瘤患者72例作为恶性组与良性组,同期选择在本院进行健康体检的老年人72例作为正常组。检测三组血清TC、TG、LDL-C水平、血清肿瘤标志物水平并进行相关性分析。结果：恶性组、良性组的血清TC、TG和LDL-C水平高于正常组,恶性组高于良性组（P<0.05）;三组的血脂异常率分别为77.8 %、44.4 %和6.9 %,对比有差异（P<0.05）。恶性组、良性组的血清CA125、CA153和CA199水平高于正常组,恶性组高于良性组（P<0.05）。在老年卵巢肿瘤144例患者中,偏相关分析显示：TC、TG、LDL-C、CA125、CA153、CA199与卵巢癌存在相关性（P<0.05）;Pearson分析显示：TC、TG、LDL-C与CA125、CA153、CA199存在相关性（P<0.05）。二元Logistic回归分析显示：TC、TG、LDL-C均为导致卵巢癌发生的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论：老年卵巢良恶性肿瘤患者多伴随有血清TC、TG和LDL-C水平的异常,与血清肿瘤标志物水平存在相关性,是引发老年卵巢癌发生的重要因素。     

Tumor markers in squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus: immunometric assay in cytosol and membrane fraction

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), ferritin, and the monoclonal antibody-detected tumor-associated antigens CA19.9 and CA50 were measured by radioimmunoassay in tissue fractions of carcinoma and normal esophageal mucosa from 59 patients with untreated primary squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Tumor markers were measured in cytosol (118 samples) and in a membrane-enriched fraction (32 samples). CEA, TPA and ferritin were detected in almost all the cytosol samples evaluated, CA19.9 and CA50 in 66% and 50% of cases respectively. Ferritin was significantly higher in carcinoma than in normal mucosa. The cytosol concentrations of CEA, TPA, CA19.9 and CA50 were not significantly different in carcinoma and normal tissue. Concentrations of CEA, CA19.9 and CA50 in the membrane fraction tended to be higher in normal tissue than in carcinoma, whereas the cytosol-to-membrane ratio was significantly higher in carcinoma. For CEA, CA19.9 and CA50, the phenotypic pattern of the malignant transformation seems to involve a different intracellular distribution rather than a quantitative change. No correlations were found between tissue and serum concentrations of the tumor markers, the former being related to the phenotypic characteristics of the tumor, the latter to the tumor burden.     

Clinical evaluation of a new two-site assay for CA125 antigen

As appropriate surgery and chemotherapy can improve both quality of life and survival of patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma, there has been a pressing need for "serodiagnostic" assays to enable close patient monitoring. CA 125 antigen has previously been described as a useful tumor marker of ovarian cancer. This is the first clinical evaluation of a radioimmunoassay using two new monoclonal antibodies, B27.1 and B43.13, that react with separate sites on the glycoprotein marker CA 125. Using the new assay, the majority of patients with clinically or radiologically detectable disease had serum CA 125 antigen levels well above the upper limit seen with random apparently healthy donors, while only three patients who were believed free of disease had elevated levels. Disease progression was associated with increasing values of serum CA 125 antigen, while response to therapy was associated with a steady decline in serum CA 125 antigen levels. Seven patients had steadily rising serum CA 125 antigen levels after initially having normal levels. The mean lead time between rise above normal and clinical or radiological evidence of relapse was 5 months (range 2 to 12 months). The merits of further surgical intervention are illustrated by the serial values of two patients followed after chemotherapy. The assay appears to have value in monitoring response to therapy and in detecting disease relapse at a time when appropriate therapeutic intervention is still possible or likely to be beneficial. Furthermore, monitoring CA 125 antigen was shown to be of benefit in assessing response to chemotherapy in a few patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, and may be useful in this group of patients in determining those likely to benefit from aggressive chemotherapy.     

子宫内膜癌患者血浆溶血磷脂酸、血清癌抗原125及人附睾蛋白4的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨子宫内膜癌患者血浆溶血磷脂酸(LPA)、血清癌抗原125(CA125)及人附睾蛋白4(HE4)的表达及与临床病理特征的关系。方法:选取2014年3月到2016年6月在同济大学附属第一妇婴保健院进行治疗的子宫内膜癌患者76例作为观察组,另选取我院同期收治的子宫内膜增生症患者50例作为良性病变组,再选取同期在我院体检结果为健康的志愿者50例作为对照组。比较三组受试者血浆LPA、血清CA125以及HE4水平。以病理检测结果为金标准,计算血浆LPA、血清CA125、HE4诊断子宫内膜癌的灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值。分析子宫内膜癌患者血浆LPA、血清CA125以及HE4水平与临床病理特征的关系。结果:观察组的血浆LPA、血清CA125以及HE4水平均高于对照组和良性病变组(P0.05),良性病变组的血浆中CA125水平高于对照组(P0.05)。血浆LPA、血清CA125以及HE4诊断子宫内膜癌的灵敏度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。子宫内膜癌患者LPA水平与年龄、肿瘤直径无关(P0.05),与淋巴结转移、临床分期、分化程度、疾病类型有关(P0.05);CA125、HE4水平与年龄、疾病类型无关(P0.05),与淋巴结转移、临床分期、肿瘤直径、分化程度有关(P0.05)。结论:子宫内膜癌患者血浆LPA、血清CA125以及HE4水平偏高,LPA、CA125、HE4与部分临床病理参数相关,三指标对子宫内膜癌均有较高的诊断价值。     

CA 125 in biological fluids

CA 125 is not a specific tumor marker, and is synthesized by normal and malignant cells of different origin (mainly in tissues derived from the müllerian epithelia) in a similar proportion. Abnormal CA 125 levels may be found in fluids of different origin (ascites, pleura, pericardium, amniotic fluid, cyst fluid, bronchoalveolar fluid, etc.) and in serum from patients with these fluids. Differences in serum CA 125 found in malignant or benign diseases may be related to the number of cells that synthesize the marker, and are highly dependent on the access to serum, where the marker is normally determined. Moreover, CA 125 is a very good tumor marker in ovarian and lung cancer. The sensitivity of CA 125 in ovarian cancer is related to stage (40-95%), histological type (lower levels in mucinous adenocarcinoma), and the marker is useful in the early detection of recurrence (sensitivity 80%) and in therapy monitoring. It's sensitivity in lung cancer is lower than in ovarian cancer, 39% in locoregional malignancies and 69% in metastatic disease, but clearly related to stage and histology (mainly in adenocarcinomas and large cell lung cancer) and it is useful in prognosis and disease monitoring.     

Pre-treatment prediction of chemoresistance in second-line chemotherapy of ovarian carcinoma: value of serological tumor marker determination (tetranectin, YKL-40, CASA, CA 125)

OBJECTIVE: To examine if the determination of the levels of serological tumor markers at time of relapse had any predictive value for chemoresistance in the second-line treatment of ovarian cancer patients. METHODS: From a registry of consecutive single-institution patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma pretreated with paclitaxel plus platinum, we selected 82 patients with (a) solid tumor recurrence, and (b) second-line chemotherapy consisting of topotecan (platinum-resistant disease) or paclitaxel plus carboplatin (platinum-sensitive disease). Stored serum samples were analyzed for the biochemical tumor markers tetranectin, YKL-40, CASA (cancer-associated serum antigen), and CA 125. The serum tumor marker levels at time of relapse were correlated with response status at landmark time after 4 cycles of second-line chemotherapy. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses (chemoresistant vs non-chemoresistant disease) were performed. RESULTS: At landmark time, 26% of patients had progression according to the GCIG (Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup) progression criteria. In univariate logistic regression analysis, the tumor markers tetranectin (OR 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8; p=0.008), YKL-40 (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.0-3.3; p=0.045), and CASA (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.7; p=0.007) had predictive value for second-line chemoresistance, whereas serum CA 125 had no predictive value. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, serum tetranectin and CASA both had independent predictive value for chemoresistance. The combined determination of tetranectin and CASA had a specificity of 90% with 33% sensitivity for the prediction of chemoresistance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66-0.91; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Low serum levels of tetranectin, or high serum levels of CASA or YKL-40, are associated with increased risk of second-line chemoresistance in patients with ovarian cancer.     

血清CA125 和OPN 联检在卵巢癌患者中的诊断价值

目的:探讨CA125和OPN联检在卵巢癌诊断中的应用价值。方法:以50例正常健康人为对照,对经组织病理学确诊的69例卵巢癌患者和54例卵巢良性肿瘤患者术前行血清CA125(放免法)和OPN(ELISA法)测定。比较二种血清标志物在正常人、卵巢良性肿瘤和卵巢癌病例中的表达水平。以正常人血清OPN均值±1.96S作为上下界,计算OPN临界值,大于临界值即为OPN阳性。血清CA125≥35 U/mL为阳性。比较三组病例中血清CA125和OPN单检及联检的灵敏度及特异性。比较二种血清标志物在卵巢癌及卵巢良性肿瘤的不同组织分型中的灵敏度。结果:卵巢癌组血清CA125和OPN的水平均显著高于正常对照组和卵巢良性肿瘤组(P<0.01),OPN临界值为27 ng/mL。在卵巢癌诊断中CA125、OPN检测的敏感度分别为66.7%和85.5%,二者联检的敏感度为95.7%。同时二者联检对浆液性囊腺癌、粘液性囊腺癌和子宫内膜样腺癌的敏感度分别为91.7%、70.0%和66.7%。结论:血清CA125和OPN是卵巢癌诊断的敏感性指标,二者联检可提高卵巢癌、特别是粘液性卵巢癌诊断的敏感度。     

Development of multiplexed bead-based immunoassays for the detection of early stage ovarian cancer using a combination of serum biomarkers

CA125 as a biomarker of ovarian cancer is ineffective for the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate multiplexed bead-based immunoassay of multiple ovarian cancer-associated biomarkers such as transthyretin and apolipoprotein A1, together with CA125, to improve the identification and evaluation of prognosis of ovarian cancer. We measured the serum levels of CA125, transthyretin, and apolipoprotein A1 from the serum of 61 healthy individuals, 84 patients with benign ovarian disease, and 118 patients with ovarian cancer using a multiplex liquid assay system, Luminex 100. The results were then analyzed according to healthy and/or benign versus ovarian cancer subjects. When CA125 was combined with the other biomarkers, the overall sensitivity and specificity were significantly improved in the ROC curve, which showed 95% and 97% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. At 95% specificity for all stages the sensitivity increased to 95.5% compared to 67% for CA125 alone. For stage I+II, the sensitivity increased from 30% for CA125 alone to 93.9%. For stage III+IV, the corresponding values were 96.5% and 91.6%, respectively. Also, the three biomarkers were sufficient for maximum separation between noncancer (healthy plus benign group) and stage I+II or all stages (I-IV) of disease. The new combination of transthyretin, and apolipoprotein A1 with CA125 improved both the sensitivity and the specificity of ovarian cancer diagnosis compared with those of individual biomarkers. These findings suggest the benefit of the combination of these markers for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.     

Prognostic value of CA125 kinetics and half-life in advanced ovarian cancer

This retrospective study was undertaken in order to assess the prognostic value of prechemotherapy serum CA125 level, CA125 kinetics, and CA125 half-life compared to the ten common clinicopathological variables in patients with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC). CA125 serum levels were determined before and during induction cisplatin polychemotherapy in 222 patients. A prechemotherapy CA125 level higher than 35 U/mL was found in 134 patients. Blood samples were further obtained before each course of chemotherapy (CT). CA125 half-life values were calculated in 112 patients with CA125 levels above 60 U/mL using van der Burg's exponential regression model. The prechemotherapy CA125 level had no prognostic value for survival. However, the median survival time of patients with CA125 levels below the upper normal limit of normality after two courses of CT was 101 months compared to a median survival of 21 months in patients without CA125 normalization (p=0.0000). Half-life calculation showed a significant correlation with survival. The median survival times of patients with T1/2 <20 days and T1/2 >20 days were 101+ and 18 months, respectively (p=0.0003). In a survival analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model, independent prognostic variables for survival included therapeutic response (p<0.0001), Karnofsky index (p<0.0001), residual disease (p<0.0001), tumor grade (p=0.0002), CA125 half-life (p=0.007), and CA125 kinetics (p=0.04). As a consequence, the possibility to predict treatment response by the CA125 half-life during chemotherapy and the time needed for normalization of CA125 levels can divide patients into good and poor prognostic groups early during chemotherapy.     

血清HE4、FS、SMRP及CA125在卵巢癌患者中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨血清人附睾蛋白4(HE4)、卵泡抑素(FS)、可溶性间皮素相关蛋白(SMRP)、糖类抗原125(CA125)在卵巢癌患者中的表达水平及临床意义。方法:选取2014年6月-2017年9月我院收治的卵巢癌患者60例作为卵巢癌组,另选取同期收治的卵巢良性肿瘤患者32例作为良性组,选取同期健康体检妇女40例作为对照组,检测三组受试者血清HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125水平,对比三组HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125阳性表达率,并分析血清HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125对卵巢癌的诊断价值。结果:三组受试者的HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125水平整体对比有统计学意义(P0.05),其中卵巢癌组与良性组HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125水平高于对照组,且卵巢癌组高于良性组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。三组受试者的HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125阳性表达率整体对比有统计学意义(P0.05),卵巢癌组与良性组HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125阳性表达率高于对照组,且卵巢癌组高于良性组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。联合检测的灵敏度高于FS、SMRP单项检测,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),联合检测的特异度高于HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125单项检测,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:卵巢癌患者血清HE4、FS、SMRP、CA125水平及阳性表达率均较高,四项指标联合检测可提高诊断卵巢癌的灵敏度及特异度。     

Effects of adiponectin,plasma D-dimer,inflammation and tumor markers on clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer

BackgroundTo investigate the effects of adiponectin (ADPN), plasma D-dimer (D-D), inflammation, and tumour markers on clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer.MethodsA total of 80 patients with ovarian cancer treated in our hospital from April 2017 to November 2019 were enrolled as study subjects and evenly divided into an observation group (patients with ovarian cancer) and a control group (patients with the benign ovarian tumour) based on the results of the postoperative pathological biopsy. The levels of ADPN, plasma D-D, inflammatory factors, and serum tumour markers carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), and risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) were compared between the two groups. The diagnostic value of serum tumour markers CA125, HE4, and ROMA in ovarian cancer was explored. The correlations of ROMA changes with the changes in the levels of ADPN, plasma D-D, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), CA125, and HE4 were analysed. Additionally, the related risk factors affecting the development of ovarian cancer were subjected to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.ResultsIn comparison with the control group, the observation group exhibited a lowered ADPN level (p<0.05), notably raised levels of plasma D-D, inflammatory factors hs-CRP and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum tumour markers CA125 and HE4 and an evidently increased ROMA (p<0.05). Besides, the detection of serum ROMA showed the highest specificity and sensitivity and low false-positive rate and false-negative rate. The changes of ROMA were positively correlated with the changes in the levels of plasma D-D, hs-CRP, CA125, and HE4 (p<0.05) and negatively associated with the changes in ADPN level (p<0.05). The results of the univariate analysis showed that abnormal ADPN, D-D, hs-CRP, IL-6, CA125, and HE4 levels were related to risk factors affecting the development of ovarian cancer. It was found through multivariate logistic regression analysis that decreased ADPN level and increased D-D, hsCRP, IL-6, CA125, and HE4 levels were independent risk factors affecting the development of ovarian cancer.ConclusionsIn the case of ovarian cancer, the ADPN level declines, while the levels of plasma D-D, inflammatory factors, and serum tumour markers CA125, HE4, and ROMA rise obviously. Besides, the ROMA level displays a positive relation to the content of CA125, HE4, plasma D-D, and inflammatory factors and a negative association with the ADPN level.     

REG4 Is Highly Expressed in Mucinous Ovarian Cancer: A Potential Novel Serum Biomarker

Preoperative diagnostics of ovarian neoplasms rely on ultrasound imaging and the serum biomarkers CA125 and HE4. However, these markers may be elevated in non-neoplastic conditions and may fail to identify most non-serous epithelial cancer subtypes. The objective of this study was to identify histotype-specific serum biomarkers for mucinous ovarian cancer. The candidate genes with mucinous histotype specific expression profile were identified from publicly available gene-expression databases and further in silico data mining was performed utilizing the MediSapiens database. Candidate biomarker validation was done using qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical staining of tumor tissue microarrays. The expression level of the candidate gene in serum was compared to the serum CA125 and HE4 levels in a patient cohort of prospectively collected advanced ovarian cancer. Database searches identified REG4 as a potential biomarker with specificity for the mucinous ovarian cancer subtype. The specific expression within epithelial ovarian tumors was further confirmed by mRNA analysis. Immunohistochemical staining of ovarian tumor tissue arrays showed distinctive cytoplasmic expression pattern only in mucinous carcinomas and suggested differential expression between benign and malignant mucinous neoplasms. Finally, an ELISA based serum biomarker assay demonstrated increased expression only in patients with mucinous ovarian cancer. This study identifies REG4 as a potential serum biomarker for histotype-specific detection of mucinous ovarian cancer and suggests serum REG4 measurement as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for postoperative follow-up of patients with mucinous ovarian cancer.     

A multiplex platform for the identification of ovarian cancer biomarkers

Background

Currently, there are no FDA approved screening tools for detecting early stage ovarian cancer in the general population. Development of a biomarker-based assay for early detection would significantly improve the survival of ovarian cancer patients.

Methods

We used a multiplex approach to identify protein biomarkers for detecting early stage ovarian cancer. This new technology (Proseek^® Multiplex Oncology Plates) can simultaneously measure the expression of 92 proteins in serum based on a proximity extension assay. We analyzed serum samples from 81 women representing healthy, benign pathology, early, and advanced stage serous ovarian cancer patients.

Results

Principle component analysis and unsupervised hierarchical clustering separated patients into cancer versus non-cancer subgroups. Data from the Proseek^® plate for CA125 levels exhibited a strong correlation with current clinical assays for CA125 (correlation coefficient of 0.89, 95% CI 0.83, 0.93). CA125 and HE4 were present at very low levels in healthy controls and benign cases, while higher levels were found in early stage cases, with highest levels found in the advanced stage cases. Overall, significant trends were observed for 38 of the 92 proteins (p < 0.001), many of which are novel candidate serum biomarkers for ovarian cancer. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for CA125 was 0.98 and the AUC for HE4 was 0.85 when comparing early stage ovarian cancer versus healthy controls. In total, 23 proteins had an estimated AUC of 0.7 or greater. Using a naïve Bayes classifier that combined 12 proteins, we improved the sensitivity corresponding to 95% specificity from 93 to 95% when compared to CA125 alone. Although small, a 2% increase would have a significant effect on the number of women correctly identified when screening a large population.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that the Proseek^® technology can replicate the results established by conventional clinical assays for known biomarkers, identify new candidate biomarkers, and improve the sensitivity and specificity of CA125 alone. Additional studies using a larger cohort of patients will allow for validation of these biomarkers and lead to the development of a screening tool for detecting early stage ovarian cancer in the general population.

     

Microchip fluorescence-enhanced immunoaasay for simultaneous quantification of multiple tumor markers

A microchip fluorescence-enhanced immunoassay method was developed for simultaneous detection of carcinoma antigen 125 (CA125) and carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3). In this method, CA125 and CA15-3 react with excess amount of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled monoclonal antibodies (Ab(*)) of CA125 and CA15-3 to form CA125-Ab(125)(*) and CA15-3-Ab(15-3)(*) complexes. Microchip electrophoresis (MCE) separation of free Ab(125)(*), Ab(15-3)(*), and CA125-Ab(125)(*), CA15-3-Ab(15-3)(*) complexes were then performed. The separated species were sensitively detected by laser-induced fluorescence detection (LIF). CA125 and CA15-3 were quantified simultaneously by measuring the fluorescence intensity of CA125-Ab(125)(*) and CA15-3-Ab(15-3)(*) complexes, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection were 0.23 U/mL for CA125 and 0.09 U/mL for CA15-3. The present MCE-LIF method was applied to the determination of CA125 and CA15-3 in serum from healthy subjects and cancer patients. The levels of CA125 and CA15-3 in these sera samples were found to be in the ranges of 15.6-36.1 U/mL and 13.8-28.4 U/mL for healthy subjects, and 192.5-368.3 U/mL and 63.3-198.4 U/mL for cancer patients.     

Roles of CA125 in diagnosis,prediction, and oncogenesis of ovarian cancer

After it was discovered approximately 40 years ago, carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) became the most widely used and concerning biomarker in ovarian cancer screening. However, there is still controversy about its role in clinical practice. CA125 is not sufficiently reliable in diagnosis to screen for early-stage ovarian cancer. On the other hand, CA125 has been a valuable indicator for evaluating chemotherapeutic efficacy and prognosis. We still do not know much about its biological role, and several studies have indicated that this marker participates in the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer. Currently, an increasing number of scholars have begun to pay attention to CA125-targeted treatment strategies. In the interest of better design and development of anticancer therapies, a renewed and systematic understanding of the roles of CA125 in diagnosis, prediction, and tumorigenesis is warranted.