[HE4--a new tumor marker for ovarian cancer]

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. In Europe, the mortality rate range is from 3.6 to 9.3 per 100 000 women; the symptoms are mostly unspecific. Compared to often used CA 125 HE4 is a tumor marker that provides more specific and earlier diagnostic of ovarian cancer.

The HE4 is a solid-phase, non-competitive immunoassay. After the required incubation an enzyme-linked monoclonal antibody are added; followed by substrate solution, which develops color reaction in proportion to the amount of HE4 in serum.

For a period of seven months we investigate 55 patients for ovarian cancer. The age was between 25 and 60. In 17 cases the levels of HE4 and CA125 were both elevated. In 8 cases we found no deviation from the normal ranges. In the rest 30 cases the levels of He4 were high, in spite of low CA125 levels. The followed biopsies confirmed the diagnosis ovarian cancer.

HE4 is vastly more specific and early-phase diagnosed tumor marker in cases with ovarian cancer. Its common usual would reduce the mortality from this social disease.