Seroimmunological Assay of Cancer Antigen 125 and Human Epididymis 4 During Progression-Free Survival Period in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Background & Objective: Radical surgery is the most effective treatment in ovarian cancer advanced stages, making reliable biomarkers essential for enhancing diagnostic accuracy. Human Epididymis 4 (HE4) is considered a dependable diagnostic biomarker; its diagnostic precision is outweighed by Cancer Antigen 125 (CA 125). The present study was conducted with aim to evaluate immunoassay of CA 125 and HE4 during progression-free survival (PFS) period in ovarian cancer patients. Materials & Methods: This observational analytical study was designed to answer whether the measurement of the tumour biomarkers, CA125 and HE4 protein, can aid in monitoring ovarian cancer patients in the postoperative period or detect the progression-free survival period. Seventy-three ovarian serous adenocarcinoma patients undergoing debulking surgery were grouped according to ovarian cancer grade, FIGO staging and progression free survival period during adjuvant therapy, each three months comparison of the serum level of CA125 and HE4 consequently. The study continued for about four years with various periods for each patient. Results: During the PFS period, the lowest biomarkers mean of CA125 was 17.1 U/ml during the ninth month after surgery; while the mean for HE4 was 28.4 pg /ml during the sixth month. Both biomarkers increased during the PFS periods, with HE4 increasing in the ninth month and CA125 in the 12th month, indicating that HE4 increased before CA125. There is an increase in the mean serum level of both HE4 and CA125 with decrease in histopathological differentiation and increased FIGO staging, before surgery, two weeks after surgery, PFS period, and after PFS period. Conclusion: The study found that the immunoassay of CA 125 and HE4 in ovarian cancer tissues can be used to monitor the effect of surgery and to evaluate the patient's in PFS period.