Serial D-dimer levels in the assessment of tumor mass and clinical outcome in ovarian cancer.

Abstract

D-dimer (DD)--an end product of fibrinolysis--was measured in serum by enzyme immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody to the gamma gamma crosslink in patients with ovarian cancer, before primary surgery and during chemotherapy for 12 months or more. Serial DD levels were found to have a high sensitivity for the detection of tumor in patients with subclinical disease (91%) as well as for predicting progression of disease (100%). As determined by a careful second-look laparotomy in patients with complete clinical remission the DD marker was highly predictive of tumors less than 1 cm. The negative predictive value (82%) was higher than the positive predictive value (69%). However, there were 31% of the patients who showed a false-positive result; a close examination of the clinical data of these 9 patients failed to reveal an explanation for the positive DD levels. Despite the lack of specificity (50% in the present series), the findings support the use of DD in the assessment of patients with ovarian cancer, especially those with subclinical disease.

• Authors: S K Khoo, D B Rylatt, P Parsons, K Wilson, M J Webb, G Dickie, J Kearsley, E V Mackay
• Journal: Gynecologic oncology (Gynecol Oncol) Vol. 29 Issue 2 Pg. 188-98 (Feb 1988) ISSN: 0090-8258 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3338671 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products
• fibrin fragment D

Topics

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• False Negative Reactions
• False Positive Reactions
• Female
• Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products (metabolism)
• Humans
• Laparotomy
• Ovarian Neoplasms (blood, drug therapy, surgery)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Prognosis
• Radioimmunoassay