Utility of tumor marker HE4 and CA125 to predict staging in endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus

Endometrial carcinoma is considered the most common gynecological cancer in the world. Pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is widely advised based on FIGO staging system. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the biomarker human epididymis protein 4(HE4) correlates with depth of myometrial invasion, histologic grade and metastases in patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus. This was a cross-sectional study in women with biopsy-proven endometrioid adenocarcinoma in the gynecological ward of Vali-e-Asr Hospital from October 2012 to October 2014. The concentrations of HE4 and CA125 were assessed before surgery and all surgical specimens were reviewed by dedicated gynecologic pathologists. The results were compared with the final histopathology report. A total of 80 patients were initially entered in this study. Twelve patients were excluded because they didn’t have tumor marker. Most of patients (76%) was in stage I disease. Levels of serum HE4 greater than 140 PM and CA125 greater than 35 kU/L observed in 12(17%) and 26(38.2%) of patients, respectively. Of the 52 patients with satge I, 14(26.9%) had CA125≥35 KU/L, compared with 6(66.7%) of the 9 patients with stage II and 6(85.7%) of the 7 patients with stage III (P<0.002). A significant increase in serum CA125 level was noted in patients with grade III tumors, deep myometrial invasion, cervical stromal involvement and nodal metastasis (P<0.001, P<0.0001, P<0.006, P<0.002). Among the group of patients with early stage disease a significant increase in serum CA125 was noted in patients with deep myometrial invasion. Five out of 52 patients (9.6%) in stage I had HE4 level≥140 PM, compared with 3 patients (33.3%) with stage II and 4 patients (57.1%) with stage III disease (P<0.003). A significant increase in serum HE4 level was noted in patients with grade III tumors, deep myometrial invasion, cervical stromal involvement and nodal metastasis (P<0.035, P<0.001, P<0.012, P<0.007). Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and CA125 may be a useful markers preoperatively in the clinical decision making for determining the need for lymph node dissection in women with endometrial cancer.