Comparison of Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4) Levels in Breast Cancer Patients and Healthy Individuals

Purpose Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4) is one of serum biomarkers that recently reported in gynecological cancers, including breast cancer. This study aimed to compare serum HE4 levels in breast cancer patients and healthy individuals. Methods This cross-sectional study examined serum HE4 levels in 42 patients and 36 healthy women in 2019. Samples were easily selected from women referring to a teaching hospital. Healthy women were selected from the normal population who did not have a risk factor for breast cancer. Demographic information were recorded in a checklist. Then 10 cc of venous blood was taken from each patient. After centrifugation, serum and plasma were kept at minus 80 degrees C. The HE4 level was measured with Immunoassay Chemi Luminescence Method and using HE4 kits made by German company Cobas. Results The mean age of the patients and healthy individuals was 48.76 +/- 14.97 and 39.88 +/- 14.05 years, respectively. The average size of tumor in patients was 4.70 +/- 2.48 cm. The average serum HE4 level in patients and healthy individuals was 68.01 +/- 63.39 and 50.06 +/- 14.97, respectively (P = 0.46). There was a significant relationship between serum HE4 levels and age of patients (P = 0.01). Conclusion This study showed an increase in HE4 levels in breast cancer patients compared to healthy individuals. Preliminary results suggest that HE4 may serve as a new biomarker for breast cancer. However, more large-scale clinical studies are needed to further determine the predictive value of this biomarker as well as its molecular mechanisms in carcinogenesis and tumor progression, especially in breast cancer.