Serum HER2 Level in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

The proto-oncogene HER2 plays a key role in the control ofcellular proliferation. Its overexpression has been reported to be associated with apoor prognosis in cancer, particularly in breast cancer. In the present study, serum HER2 levels wereinvestigated in patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. Serum HER2levels were detected by an ELISAcommercial kit in 51 patients and 33 healthyindividuals. The mean serum HER2 level was found to be significantly higher inpatients than healthy controls (P=0.005). In 29% of patients, serum HER2 levels werehigher than the cut-off value. HER2 serum level was not associated with tumor stageat diagnosis. Elevation of HER2 in a high proportion of patients with epithelialovarian cancer further strengthens the importance of this molecule in the pathogenesisof ovarian cancer.