Evaluation in the predictive value of serum human epididymal protein 4 (HE4), cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and a combination of both in detecting ovarian malignancy

摘要

Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women. In Malaysia and the state of Sarawak, ovarian carcinoma was the fourth highest female cancer in the year 2007 [1]. Unfortunately, its symptoms are often vague and non-specific, and thus resulting in late presentation with advanced disease. Morbidity and mortality are markedly increased in advanced stages and this makes early detection and diagnosis important. Nevertheless, the search for a highly sensitive and specific screening method has proven vastly unsuccessful so far. Based on the fact that certain genes are over-expressed in most ovarian cancer cell lines, various measurable glycoproteins in the form of serum tumour markers had been studied. Quantitative serum tumour marker testing has for a long time been one of the most important investigative tool in a clinician's armamentarium because of its convenience and non-invasiveness.