Detection of the HE4 protein in urine as a biomarker for ovarian neoplasms

Cancer Lett. 2010 Oct 1;296(1):43-8. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2010.03.013. Epub 2010 Apr 8.

Abstract

The HE4 protein is overexpressed in ovarian carcinomas and can be detected in serum by an ELISA with sensitivity similar to CA125 and higher specificity for malignant disease. We now demonstrate that HE4 can also be detected in the urine at a specificity level of 94.4%, including 13/15 (86.6%) with stage I/II and 57/64 (89.0%) with stage III/IV disease and including 90.5% of patients with serous ovarian carcinoma. Assaying serum and urine from the same patients showed similar sensitivity. Our data indicate that measuring HE4 in urine may aid diagnosis and the monitoring of response to therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Creatinine / urine
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epididymal Secretory Proteins / genetics*
  • Epididymal Secretory Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genital Diseases, Female / blood
  • Genital Diseases, Female / genetics
  • Genital Diseases, Female / urine
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / blood
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / urine
  • Postmenopause
  • Premenopause
  • Reference Values
  • beta-Defensins

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • DEFB126 protein, human
  • Epididymal Secretory Proteins
  • beta-Defensins
  • Creatinine