Measurement of Glycodelin A in Fluids of Benign Ovarian Cysts, Borderline Tumours and Malignant Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Background: Glycodelin A levels in fluids of benign ovarian cysts, borderline tumours and ovarian cancer, as well as serum-levels of glycodelin A, were analysed in patients with benign and malignant ovarian tumours. The aim of the study was to investigate if the level of glycodelin A in body fluids of patients with malignant ovarian tumours could be a marker for the disease. Additionally, immunohistochemical investigations of glycodelin A expression in tissue of ovarian cancer were performed. Materials and Methods: A total of 158 samples of fluids from benign ovarian cysts, borderline tumours and ovarian cancer were collected during surgery in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Rostock, Germany. Additionally, 69 samples of serum from patients with benign ovarian cysts and ovarian cancer on the day before surgery were collected. An ELISA for determination of glycodelin A was used. Immunohistochemical detection of glycodelin A expression was performed on ovarian cancer tissue from 38 patients. Results: Malignant cystic fluids showed higher glycodelin A values (mean: 1814.4 ng/ml) compared to fluids of benign ovarian cysts (mean: 784.4 ng/ml). The results of glycodelin A determination were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test for comparison of the means. There was a statistically significant difference between benign ovarian cysts and malignant ovarian cancer for the fluid (p<0.001). In addition, serum samples of malignant ovarian tumours also showed significantly higher glycodelin A values compared to serum levels of benign tumours (p<0.001). Immunohistochemical staining on ovarian cancer tissue showed a glycodelin A expression in 25-30% of the carcinoma cells. Conclusion: High levels of glycodelin A were found in cystic fluids of ovarian cancer. In addition, we also found higher levels of glycodelin A in the serum of patients with ovarian cancer compared to the serum of patients with benign ovarian cysts. Furthermore, ovarian cancer tissues showed intense staining with a glycodelin A antibody. Further investigations are necessary to show if glycodelin A quantification could help to diagnose ovarian cancer.