Abstract
The HE4 protein is overexpressed
in ovarian carcinomas and can be detected in serum by an ELISA with
sensitivity similar to CA125 and higher specificity for malignant
disease. We now demonstrate that HE4 can also be detected in the urine
at a specificity level of 94.4%, including 13/15 (86.6%) with stage I/II
and 57/64 (89.0%) with stage III/IV disease and including 90.5% of
patients with serous ovarian carcinoma. Assaying serum and urine from
the same patients showed similar sensitivity. Our data indicate that
measuring HE4 in urine may aid diagnosis and the monitoring of response
to therapy.