Chemokine expression in patients with ovarian cancer or benign ovarian tumors

Abstract

IntroductionChemokines play a crucial role in tumor growth and progression according to proangiogenic and immunosuppressive acting. This study was aimed to investigate the serum levels of selected chemokines in patients with ovarian cancer or benign ovarian tumors to point on their role in tumorigenesis and their potential use in preoperative diagnosing of adnexal mass.Material and methodsThe study group consisted of 59 women with ovarian cancer: 17 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and 42 women with benign ovarian tumors. We measured in sera obtained preoperatively the level of CA125 and the panel of 5 chemokines: CX3CL1/Fractalkine, CXCL1/GRO-α, CXCL12/SDF-1, CCL20/MIP-3α and IL-17F, using chemiluminescence method with multiplexed bead based immunoassay.ResultsCX3CL1 was significantly elevated in sera of advanced ovarian cancer patients compared to women with benign ovarian tumors. The significant elevation of CXCL1 was also observed (both: early and advanced stage). The similar pattern was present with standard ovarian cancer marker – CA125. In our patients with endometriotic cysts CA125 levels were significantly higher than in women with other benign tumors whereas all analyzed chemokines had similar serum titers in patients with endometriotic vs other benign ovarian cysts.ConclusionsCX3CL1 and CXCL1 are elevated in sera of EOC patients what points on their role in cancer development. Moreover, they might be useful in preoperative differential diagnosis of ovarian tumors, especially as they were not elevated in cases of endometriosis.