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HE4 – not only an ovarian cancer biomarker – a brief review
Affiliations- Students’ Scientific Organization of Cancer Cell Biology, Department of Cancer Prevention, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Cancer Prevention, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract
Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) was firstly identified in epididymal epithelial cells and described as a protease inhibitor playing a role in spermatogenesis. Regarding numerous studies proving its diverse potential as a prognostic and predictive factor in ovarian cancer, it was incorporated into ROMA algorithm. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that serum level of HE4 is not exclusive to ovarian cancer. As a result, doctors using ROMA algorithm for stratifying patients with ovarian cancer must be aware of other conditions that may affect serum level of HE4. This review comprises different conditions connected with high level of HE4 that might impact ovarian cancer diagnosing process. Moreover, discovering increased HE4 level in various conditions should open discussion about its applicability in diseases other than ovarian cancer.
Abstract
Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) was firstly identified in epididymal epithelial cells and described as a protease inhibitor playing a role in spermatogenesis. Regarding numerous studies proving its diverse potential as a prognostic and predictive factor in ovarian cancer, it was incorporated into ROMA algorithm. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that serum level of HE4 is not exclusive to ovarian cancer. As a result, doctors using ROMA algorithm for stratifying patients with ovarian cancer must be aware of other conditions that may affect serum level of HE4. This review comprises different conditions connected with high level of HE4 that might impact ovarian cancer diagnosing process. Moreover, discovering increased HE4 level in various conditions should open discussion about its applicability in diseases other than ovarian cancer.
Keywords
human epididymis protein 4; ovarian cancer; ROMA algorithm; biomarkers
About this articleTitle
HE4 – not only an ovarian cancer biomarker – a brief review
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Review paper
Pages
142-145
Published online
2019-10-31
Page views
545
Article views/downloads
1865
DOI
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2019;69(3-4):142-145.
Keywords
human epididymis protein 4
ovarian cancer
ROMA algorithm
biomarkers
Authors
Marta Maksimiuk
Michał P. Budzik
Andrzej Deptała
Anna M. Badowska-Kozakiewicz