Multiple immunoreactive inhibin proteins in serum from postmenopausal women with epithelial ovarian cancer.

Abstract

Inhibin is an ovarian protein previously shown, using a nonspecific assay, to be elevated in serum of women with ovarian cancer. However, inhibin is secreted in multiple biochemical forms, including dimeric inhibin A and B and alpha inhibin precursors (pro-alphaC), each of which can now be specifically measured. We have examined the secretion of inhibin B and pro-alphaC inhibin in serum from women with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) for the first time, and have compared these analytes to inhibin A and total inhibin (inhibin A + B + pro-alphaC) as potential serum markers for EOC in postmenopausal women. Of all the immunoreactive inhibin proteins studied, the best serum marker was pro-alphaC, with 22% of women with EOC having levels that exceeded the range of values in women without EOC. Since CA 125 and pro-alphaC levels were not significantly correlated, combination of these markers resulted in 87% of EOC cases having elevated preoperative serum levels, a 9% increase over CA 125 alone. These data suggest that alpha inhibin secretion, especially pro-alphaC, may be useful in addition to CA 125 as a serum marker for EOC in postmenopausal women.

• Authors: G M Lambert-Messerlian, M Steinhoff, W Zheng, J A Canick, W H Gajewski, D B Seifer, A L Schneyer
• Journal: Gynecologic oncology (Gynecol Oncol) Vol. 65 Issue 3 Pg. 512-6 (Jun 1997) ISSN: 0090-8258 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9190984 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Inhibins

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Inhibins (blood)
• Middle Aged
• Ovarian Neoplasms (blood)
• Postmenopause