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Diagnostic value of serum GDF-15 in patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei
Bing Wang1, Jie Zhang1, Ruiqing Ma2
1Department of Clinical Laboratory of Aerospace Center Hospital, Beijing 100049, China.
Background And Aims:
Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare malignancy that lacks a highly sensitive and specific biomarker for its diagnosis. Identifying reliable serum markers is crucial for improving the diagnostic accuracy and management of PMP. This study aims to explore the diagnostic value of serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in patients with PMP.
Material And Methods:
We carried on a 1:1 matched case-control study. 44 patients with PMP hospitalized in Aerospace Center Hospital were recruited as cases, and 44 sex- and age-matched apparently healthy participants were selected as controls. The serum GDF-15 concentrations were tested using an ELISA method. The diagnostic value of GDF-15 in PMP patients was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Results:
The median serum GDF-15 level in PMP patients was 1192.77 (843.03-1879.06) pg/mL, notably higher than that in healthy controls [533.27 (410.46-641.47) pg/mL] (P<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) of serum GDF-15 for PMP diagnosis was 0.907, the optimal diagnostic threshold value was 644.58 pg/mL, the sensitivity was 93.18 %, and the specificity was 77.27 %. The AUC of GDF-15 combined with carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) was larger than that of GDF-15 alone (P=0.027), and the sensitivity and specificity achieved 86.36 % and 95.45 %. GDF-15 levels showed a significant correlation with age (P=0.042), with younger PMP patients exhibiting notably lower concentrations of GDF-15 compared to older patients.
Conclusion:
Serum GDF-15 could become a new marker for the PMP diagnosis. The combination of GDF-15 and CA125 demonstrated superior diagnostic performance for PMP compared to GDF-15 alone, achieving a sensitivity of 86.36% and a specificity of 95.45%.
Insights
Serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) shows promise as a diagnostic marker for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). Combining GDF-15 with carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) significantly improves diagnostic accuracy for PMP.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare malignancy with limited diagnostic biomarkers.
- Accurate diagnosis of PMP is challenging due to the lack of sensitive and specific serum markers.
- Novel serum markers are needed to improve PMP diagnosis and patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic utility of serum growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in patients with PMP.
- To evaluate GDF-15 as a potential biomarker for PMP diagnosis.
- To compare the diagnostic performance of GDF-15 alone and in combination with CA125.
Main Methods:
- A 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted with 44 PMP patients and 44 healthy controls.
- Serum GDF-15 concentrations were measured using ELISA.
- Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to assess diagnostic value.
Main Results:
- Serum GDF-15 levels were significantly higher in PMP patients (median 1192.77 pg/mL) compared to controls (median 533.27 pg/mL) (P<0.001).
- GDF-15 demonstrated good diagnostic performance for PMP with an AUC of 0.907, 93.18% sensitivity, and 77.27% specificity.
- The combination of GDF-15 and CA125 yielded a larger AUC (P=0.027) with 86.36% sensitivity and 95.45% specificity.
Conclusions:
- Serum GDF-15 presents potential as a novel diagnostic marker for PMP.
- Combining GDF-15 with CA125 offers superior diagnostic performance for PMP compared to GDF-15 alone.
- GDF-15 levels correlate with age, suggesting potential age-related variations in PMP patients.

