Association of Serum HB-EGF Value and Response to Chemotherapy in Patients with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Anticancer Res. 2018 Jul;38(7):4347-4351. doi: 10.21873/anticanres.12735.

Abstract

Background/aim: Many anticancer agents including molecularly-targeted drugs have been developed for ovarian cancer. However, the prognosis of recurrent ovarian cancer remains extremely poor. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) is reported as a rational target for ovarian cancer therapy. Moreover, serum HB-EGF expression is recognized as a biomarker in patients with primary ovarian cancer.

Materials and methods: We analysed serum samples with recurrent ovarian cancer at the Fukuoka University Hospital from April 2009 to March 2014. To assess the clinical significance of serum HB-EGF in recurrent ovarian cancer, the association between serum HB-EGF levels and prognosis in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer was examined using ELISA.

Results: Patients with high serum HB-EGF expression showed a significantly poor response to second-line chemotherapeutic agents compared with patients with low HB-EGF levels.

Conclusion: HB-EGF expression in serum may be a potential therapeutic indicator for novel HB-EGF-targeted therapy in recurrent ovarian cancer.

Keywords: ELISA; HB-EGF; ovarian cancer; recurrence.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Female
  • Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor / blood*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / blood*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / blood*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • HBEGF protein, human
  • Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor