Kinetics of HE4 and CA125 markers in metastatic ovarian cancer: The META4 study.

Abstract

e17059 Background: HE4 is a new marker that could improve the detection of ovarian cancer (OC). The objective of the present study was to compare the prognostic value of the HE4 and CA125 markers in patients (pts) with metastatic epithelial OC, considering the progression-free survival (PFS). Methods: 101 pts, treated with 2nd/3rd line of chemotherapy, were included in 3 cancer centers between 2010 and 2014. Serums were prospectively collected before the 1stchemotherapy cycle, during chemotherapy and every 3 months until disease progression. The primary endpoint was HE4 and CA125 marker level evolution under treatment. Secondary endpoints were the markers’ main kinetic parameters: initial concentration, nadir, time to nadir, time to normalisation, half-life, doubling time and time to exceed the clinical threshold (CA125≥35UI/L; HE4≥75pM) (NCT01768156). Results: 89 pts were included in the final analysis. Median age was 65 (34-83). Histological sub-types were mainly serous (88%). The median PFS was 45 weeks (95%CI: 33.4-52). At baseline, median CA125 and HE4 levels were 210UI/L (7-10310) and 184pM (31-4836), respectively. Among 12 pts (13%) CA125- (with CA125 < 35UI/L), 8 were HE4+ (with HE4≥75pM) and among 16 pts (18%) HE4-, 12 were CA125+. The median nadir was 31UI/L (3-8744) for CA125 and 75pM (20-4836) for HE4. Median time to nadir was 14 (0-130) and 12 weeks (0-52) for CA125 and HE4, respectively. The median time to normalization was 17 (3-247) and 17 weeks (2-203) for CA125 and HE4, and the median half-life was 8 (1-193) and 12 weeks (2-166), respectively. The median doubling time and the time to exceed the clinical threshold were respectively of 13.5 and 40.2 weeks for CA125, and 23 and 23.6 weeks for HE4. In multivariate analysis, the CA125 nadir ( < 35 vs ≥35: HR = 3.13; 95%CI: 1.75-5.58), CA125 time to nadir ( < 14 vs ≥14: HR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.28-0.76), HE4 nadir ( < 75 vs ≥75: HR = 1.95; 95%CI 1.16-3.27), and HE4 time to nadir ( < 12 vs≥12: HR = 0.39; 95%CI: 0.23-0.67) were found significant prognostic factors for PFS. Conclusions: Nadir and time to nadir were significant for both HE4 and CA125 markers in multivariate analysis. Further investigations on HE4 kinetic could be helpful for monitoring pts presenting no variation of CA125. Clinical trial information: NCT01768156.