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

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Indian Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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 °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.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the staff and participants of this study for their important contributions.

Funding

The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Zahra Honarvar

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahid Bahonar Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Behjat Kalantari Khandani

  3. Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Mohaddeseh Nazari

  4. Clinical Research Development Unit, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Fatemeh Karami Robati

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  1. Zahra Honarvar
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  2. Behjat Kalantari Khandani
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  3. Mohaddeseh Nazari
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Correspondence to Zahra Honarvar.

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The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Ethics approval

This study was approved by the ethics committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences in Iran (Ethical Code: IR.KMU.AH.REC.1396.1684).

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Informed consent was taken from all patients.

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Honarvar, Z., Kalantari Khandani, B., Nazari, M. et al. Comparison of Serum Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4) Levels in Breast Cancer Patients and Healthy Individuals. Indian J Gynecol Oncolog 19, 59 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-021-00551-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-021-00551-7

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