Preoperative serum thrombopoietin levels are higher in patients with ovarian cancer than with benign cysts.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the diagnostic relevance of serum thrombopoietin (TPO) levels, we compared serum TPO levels between the patients with ovarian cancer and benign ovarian cysts. We also correlated serum TPO concentrations in ovarian cancer patients to know prognostic factors such as disease stage, tumor grade, histological subtype, and residual tumor mass.

STUDY DESIGN:

Preoperative serum TPO levels were measured in women with epithelial ovarian cancer (n=51) and women with benign ovarian cysts (n=25) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS:

The serum TPO concentration was significantly elevated in the ovarian cancer patients as compared to the benign patient controls. Platelet counts and TPO in the serum did not correlate in the ovarian cancer patients. However, using a TPO cutoff of 90 pg/ml and a CA125 cutoff of 30 units/ml, when both markers were elevated, the specificity was as high as 92%.

CONCLUSION:

Serum TPO concentrations may have a role in the diagnostic clinical setting for discerning benign from malignant ovarian tumors.

• Authors: Sami Tsukishiro, Nobuhiro Suzumori, Hiroshi Nishikawa, Atsushi Arakawa, Kaoru Suzumori
• Journal: European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology (Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol) Vol. 140 Issue 1 Pg. 67-70 (Sep 2008) ISSN: 0301-2115 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 16359773 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• CA-125 Antigen
• Thrombopoietin

Topics

• Biomarkers (blood)
• CA-125 Antigen (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Ovarian Cysts (blood)
• Ovarian Neoplasms (blood)
• Platelet Count
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Thrombopoietin (blood)