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HE4 combined with MDCT imaging is a good marker in the evaluation of disease extension in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma

  • Research Article
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Tumor Biology

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the expression of the biomarkers CA125 and HE4 combined with imaging, in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Forty-six women with EOC were included in the study all affected with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Twenty-two of 46 patients (group I) had peritoneal carcinomatosis with small implants in single or in multiple sites (score 1); 24/46 patients (group II) had macro-nodular implants and omental thickening (score 2). High levels of CA125 (350 ± 11, mean ± SEM) have been observed in 21/22 patients of group I, and a similar value (370 ± 13) has been observed in all patients belonging to group II. HE4 positivity values (350 ± 9) have been observed in all group I patients, whereas all patients belonging to group II showed a higher value of HE4 (600 ± 12). Statistically significant differences were observed between the HE4 levels observed in group I patients in comparison with group II patients (p < 0.0001). In addition, we expressed the extension of lymph nodal disease in three scores: L1–L2–L3, and a statistically significant correlation was observed between high HE4 levels and severity of lymph nodal disease L3 (p < 0.0001). The availability of biomarkers, particularly HE4, together with sophisticated imaging techniques, strengthens the clinical relevance of this study, for the follow-up of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

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Acknowledgments

This study is funded by the University of Rome “Sapienza”. We are thankful to Giuseppina Gennarini, Barbara Colaprisca, Silvestra Tudini and Pasqualina Moro for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Medicine, “Sapienza” University, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Cecilia Midulla, Flavia Longo, Valentina Viggiani, Luigi Frati & Emanuela Anastasi

  2. Department of Radiology, “Sapienza” University, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Lucia Manganaro

  3. CNR-IBPM, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Teresa Granato

  4. Laboratory of Tumor Markers, Department of Molecular Medicine, University “Sapienza”, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Emanuela Anastasi

Authors
  1. Cecilia Midulla
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  2. Lucia Manganaro
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  3. Flavia Longo
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  4. Valentina Viggiani
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  5. Luigi Frati
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  6. Teresa Granato
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  7. Emanuela Anastasi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emanuela Anastasi.

Additional information

Emanuela Anastasi and Teresa Granato contributed equally to this work.

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Midulla, C., Manganaro, L., Longo, F. et al. HE4 combined with MDCT imaging is a good marker in the evaluation of disease extension in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Tumor Biol. 33, 1291–1298 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-012-0376-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-012-0376-5

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