Determination of serum CRP, VEGF, Leptin, CK-MB, CA-15-3 and IL-6 levels for malignancy prediction in adnexal masses

Objective: Investigation of serum markers which could be used in the malignancy prediction of adnexal masses. Material and Methods: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin 6 (IL-6), leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine-kinaseMB (CK-MB) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) levels were determined prospectively in serum samples that were obtained from patients who underwent surgery for an adnexal mass and who were referred to Istanbul University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, between 2009 and 2011, and then were compared with the serum samples of completely healthy outpatient patients as a control group. Based onto the ovarian cancer status, cases were divided into four groups: 13 patients were included in the early-stage malignant group, 12 patients were included in the advanced-stage malignant group, 25 in the benign group and 19 in the healthy control group. Patients with only epithelial ovarian cancer were included into the cancer group. Ethics Commitee approval was obtained for this study. The budget was supported by the Istanbul University Scientific Research Projects Unit. Results: Results related with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and odds ratio (OR), respectively, and the following values were calculated: 48%, 95%, 92%, 59% and + OR 9.6 -OR 0.5 for CA; 15-3; 52%, 75%, 72%, 55%, + OR 2.08 -OR 0.64 for leptin; 72%, 70%, 75%, 66% 2.4-0.5 for IL-6; 24%, 80%, 60%, 45%, 1.2-0.92 for VEGF; 68%, 30%, 55%, 43%, 0.97-1.06 for CRP; and 8%, 70%, 25%, 38%, 026-1.31 for CK-MB. Conclusion: CA 15-3, IL-6, Leptin, VEGF and CRP were effective in the prediction of benign and malignant masses; however they may be more suitable in selected cases as they have a limited use because of their inadequate potential regarding sensitivity and specificity.