Abstract
Author(s): Andrzej Brenk (ABDE), Piotr Bodzek (CDEG), Iwona Janosz (EF), Anita Olejek (E)
Introduction. Endometrial cancer is one of the most common female genital cancers, but it still does not have a valid and reliable diagnostic marker. Doubts concerning the genuine behavior of HE4 in endometrial cancer, which are mentioned in the literature, are the basis for attempts made for their resolution. Aim of the study. The aim of the study was to evaluate HE4 levels in patients with endometrial cancer and compare the results with those of healthy age-matching women. Material and methods. The study involved 50 patients with endometrial cancer and 50 healthy controls treated in the Clinical Unit of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecologic Oncology in Bytom, Silesian University of Medicine. Results. The mean HE4 concentration in healthy women was lower in a statistically significant way compared with women with endometrial cancer. Moreover, HE4 levels in endometrial cancer patients increase with the depth of endometrial infiltration specified after a histopathological examination. The mean concentration of CA125 in healthy women is lower in a statistically significant way compared with women with endometrial cancer. Conclusions. Endometrial cancer is a potent stimulus inducing HE4 and CA125 synthesis. A marked increase in HE4 expression in women with this disease suggests that this protein can be the searched endometrial cancer marker that strongly correlates with the depth of endometrial infiltration. An HE4 increase in patients with endometrial cancer may be mediated by higher erythrocyte, INR and potassium values. This suggests that HE4 is more valuable as a tumor marker in endometrial cancer patients with no comorbidities.