Abstract
Author(s): KRZYSZTOF KUÅAK, GRZEGORZ POLAK, WIESÅAWA BEDNAREK, KAROLINA FRÄSZCZAK, JAN KOTARSKI
Early diagnosis of ovarian cancer proves still very difficult. The search for novel biomarkers in many papers aims in enabling an early diagnosis of the disease. HE4 (human epididymis protein 4) is overexpressed in ovarian cancer tissues. Evaluation of its serum levels proves to have similar specificity and sensitivity to CA 125 (cancer antigen 125), but its less frequently elevated in benign gynecologic pathologies. HE4 is an valuable addition to CA 125 in the diagnosis differentiating benign ovarian tumors from malignant masses. ROMA (risk of malignancy algorithm) combines diagnostic capabilities of CA 125 and HE4, with the differentiation of patients in pre- and postmenopausal groups. ROMA was approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administraton) as a diagnostic algorithm enabling appropriate referral of high risk of ovarian cancer patients to gynecologic oncologists. HE4 can increase the sensitivity of CA 125 for detection of early ovarian cancer. The aim of this paper is the review of evidence from current literature presenting HE4 as a valuable diagnostic tool aiding gynecologist in accurate and early ovarian cancer diagnosis