Serum human epididymis protein 4 as a prognostic marker in cervical cancer

Hwang, Woo Yeon; Suh, Dong Hoon; Kim, Kidong; Kim, Yong Beom; No, Jae Hong

Serum human epididymis protein 4 as a prognostic marker in cervical cancer

Files

10.1177_10732748221097778.pdf (654.43 KB)

Authors

Hwang, Woo Yeon

Suh, Dong Hoon

Kim, Kidong

Kim, Yong Beom

No, Jae Hong

Issue Date

2022-05-04

Type

Article

Language

en_US

Keywords

Human Epididymis Protein 4 , Cervical Cancer , Tumor Marker , Prognosis , Survival

Abstract

Objectives: The objective is to evaluate the prognostic value of serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) as a tumor marker in patients with cervical cancer. Methods: Sixty-seven patients with cervical cancer treated at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from September 2014 to May 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Serum HE4 levels were measured by immunoassay before starting primary treatment. A mean serum HE4 level of 72.6 pmol/L was used to divide the patients into low and high HE4 groups. Patient characteristics, clinicopathological variables, and survival outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results: The low and high HE4 groups included 55 (82.1%) and 12 (17.9%) patients at diagnosis, respectively. Higher HE4 levels were significantly associated with older age at diagnosis (age <50: .0% vs age ≥50: 100.0%; P = .002), menopause (premenopause: 8.3% vs postmenopause: 91.7%; P = .009), higher FIGO stage (stage I–II: 33.3% vs III–IV: 66.7%; P = .017), large tumor size (<4.0 cm: 41.7% vs ≥4.0 cm: 58.3%; P = .029), positive lymph node metastasis (negative: 41.7% vs positive: 58.3%; P = .049), and involvement of the parametrium (negative: 25.0% vs positive: 75.0%; P = .002). Higher HE4 level was a predictive factor for worse overall survival but not for progression-free survival. Elevated HE4 levels were not independent factors for the prediction of either overall survival or progression-free survival. Subgroup analysis by histological type revealed similar results for patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: High levels of HE4 expression correlated with poor overall survival, indicating that elevated HE4 levels are associated with a poor prognosis for patients with cervical cancer.

Citation

Hwang, W. Y., Suh, D. H., Kim, K., Kim, Y. B., & No, J. H. (2022). Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 as a Prognostic Marker in Cervical Cancer. Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center, 29, 10732748221097778. https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748221097778

Publisher

Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center