OBJECTIVE: To examine the correlation among the preoperative serum levels of five biomarkers presumed to be useful for early detection of epithelial ovarian cancer and evaluate the relationships between serum levels of these five biomarkers and epithelial ovarian cancer stage. METHODS: We analyzed 56 newly diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Preoperative serum levels of leptin, prolactin, osteopontin (OPN), insulin-like growth factor-II, and CA-125 were determined by ELISA. We also examined the correlation between the serum levels of the biomarkers and ovarian cancer stage. Significant differences in the mean serum levels of two proteins, leptin and CA-125, were observed between stage subsets. RESULTS: There was a significant negative correlation between prolactin and leptin and a significant positive correlation between prolactin and OPN. Of the five biomarkers, only the mean serum CA-125 level showed a significant positive correlation with cancer stage (Spearman rho=0.24, p<0.01). OPN showed a marginally significant positive correlation with stage (Spearman rho=0.14, p=0.07). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the relationship between five biomarkers in epithelial ovarian cancer. These tumor markers may be useful in screening for ovarian cancer, in characterizing disease states, and in developing therapeutic interventions targeting these marker proteins. Large-scale studies that include potential confounding factors and modifiers are necessary to more accurately define the value of these novel biomarkers in ovarian cancer.
Biomarkers ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Leptin ; Mass Screening ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; Osteopontin ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prolactin ; Proteins ; Biomarkers, Tumor

We report a very high serum level of serum CA 125 in a patient with adenomyosis. Elevated serum CA 125 is useful for the management of patients with ovarian cancer but has also been associated with several benign conditions, including adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, pregnancy, menstruation, and endometriosis. Adenomyosis refers to the endometrial glands and stroma located deep within the myometrium. Here we report a patient with an elevated, rising serum CA 125 level over 1,000 IU/mL without any malignancy. Exploratory laparoscopy with LAVH (Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy) and multiple peritoneal biopsies were performed. Histologically, the lesion was confirmed to be an adenomyosis. The level of serum CA 125 was 38 IU/mL on the fifth postoperative day.
Adenomyosis ; Animals ; Biopsy ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Leiomyoma ; Menstruation ; Mice ; Myometrium ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; Pregnancy

Tumors of low malignant potential (also called borderline tumors) account for approximately 10% of malignant ovarian neoplasm. Borderline tumors have a much better prognosis and, because they are noninvasive, may be treated less radically than invasive ovarian cancer. The ability to distinguish borderline tumor from early stage malignant disease preoperatively considerably influences surgical treatment, and allows improved counseling of patients. CA 125 is a useful tumor marker in the diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors. However, in the case of borderline ovarian tumor, the value of CA 125 as a diagnostic tool seems to be invalid. Herein, we report a case of borderline ovarian tumor with extremely elevated serum CA 125 level.
Counseling ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prognosis

Tumors of low malignant potential (also called borderline tumors) account for approximately 10% of malignant ovarian neoplasm. Borderline tumors have a much better prognosis and, because they are noninvasive, may be treated less radically than invasive ovarian cancer. The ability to distinguish borderline tumor from early stage malignant disease preoperatively considerably influences surgical treatment, and allows improved counseling of patients. CA 125 is a useful tumor marker in the diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumors. However, in the case of borderline ovarian tumor, the value of CA 125 as a diagnostic tool seems to be invalid. Herein, we report a case of borderline ovarian tumor with extremely elevated serum CA 125 level.
Counseling ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prognosis