Estradiol, des-acylated, and total ghrelin levels might be associated with epithelial ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe present study aimed to investigate the association between estradiol, acylated, des-acylated, total ghrelin levels along with pathological parameters and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) odds in postmenopausal women.MethodsA case-control study was carried out on 45 EOC patients and 33 age-matched postmenopausal women as the control group. Plasma levels of estradiol, acylated, des-acylated, and total ghrelin were measured by ELISA method.ResultsEstradiol’s plasma levels were significantly higher in EOC patients compared to control women (P < 0.001). Although acylated, des-acylated, and total ghrelin levels were not associated with EOC in logistic regression models, estradiol levels were significantly related to the increase in EOC odds (OR: 1.083, 95% CI: 1.037-1.13, P < 0.001). However, estradiol levels in the two first quartiles (Q1, Q2) were associated with decreased odds of EOC (OR: 0.011, 95% CI: 0.001-0.118, P < 0.001, and OR: 0.030, 95% CI: 0.003-0.284, P = 0.002, respectively). For those patients in the third quartile of plasma des-acylated and total ghrelin compared to those in the highest (Q4), the multivariate odds ratios of EOC were respectively 0.192 and 0.25.ConclusionsIn conclusion, higher concentrations of des-acylated and total ghrelin might be associated with the decreased EOC odds. Furthermore, the findings suggest that high levels of estradiol might be a potential odds factor in EOC, however, lower estradiol levels may have a protective effect on EOC development.