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Concentrations of Alpha-Fetoprotein, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3, c-erbB-2, and Epidermal Growth Factor in Serum of Patients With Endometriosis

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Abstract

Objective

Endometriosis, although it is a benign disorder, shares many similarities with cancer. There is increasing levels of evidence suggesting that some circulating factors involved in gynecologic cancers, such as alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), c-erbB-2 (HER-2/ neu), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), could also play a role in endometriosis. Hence, the present study was aimed at evaluating whether the levels of these molecules are modulated in the serum of patients with endometriosis.

Methods

Levels of AFP, IGFBP-3, c-erbB-2, and EGF were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum from 36 subjects with surgically confirmed endometriosis and 36 controls with no surgical evidence of the disease. In addition, information such as demographic characteristics, personal habits, menstrual characteristics, and clinical profile was collected from each participating subject.

Results

No significant difference was found between serum levels of AFP, IGFBP-3, c-erbB-2, and EGF in patients with endometriosis and controls, even when we adjusted for potential confounders and took into account the menstrual cycle. Moreover, no correlation was observed between the serum concentrations of these molecules and the stage of the disease. However, a correlation was detected between soluble levels of IGFBP-3 and presence of uterine leiomyoma.

Conclusion

Although AFP, IGFBP-3, c-erbB-2, and EGF are not altered in the circulation of patients with endometriosis, their involvement in the development of endometriotic lesions cannot be excluded, (J Soc Gynecol Investig 2004; 11:115-81)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MetrioGene BioSciences (a subsidiary of PROCREA BioSciences), Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Fabianne Philippoussis PhD, Danièle Gagné MSc, Patrice Hugo PhD & Diane Gosselin PhD

Authors
  1. Fabianne Philippoussis PhD
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  2. Danièle Gagné MSc
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  3. Patrice Hugo PhD
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  4. Diane Gosselin PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diane Gosselin PhD.

Additional information

The authors thank Julie Poliquin-Fleury, Martin Pagé, and the team of technicians for their excellent technical assistance. The authors are also grateful to all the clinicians for their invaluable collaboration in sample and data collection. Finally, this study would not have been possible without the generous contribution of all women who participated in this work.

Supported by a grant of the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grant #15453Q, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and by internal resources at PROCREA BioSciences, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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Philippoussis, F., Gagné, D., Hugo, P. et al. Concentrations of Alpha-Fetoprotein, Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3, c-erbB-2, and Epidermal Growth Factor in Serum of Patients With Endometriosis. Reprod. Sci. 11, 175–181 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsgi.2003.10.005

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