Combined detection of serum matrix metalloproteinase 9, acetyl heparinase and cathepsin L in diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Objective: To investigate the clinic values of combining test of serum matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), acetyl heparinase (Hpa) and Cathepsin L (CL) in diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Methods: Serum levels of MMP-9, Hpa and CL were detected in a total of 418 cases, including 217 cases with ovarian malignant tumor, 100 cases with ovarian benign tumor and 101 healthy controls, by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Their correlation with clinicopathologic feature of ovarian malignant tumor was analyzed and their diagnosis performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC). The combined diagnosis model was established by logistic regression analysis.

Results: The serum levels of MMP-9, Hpa and CL were significantly higher in patients with ovarian malignant tumor than in benign tumor and healthy control, the serum levels of CL and Hpa were higher in epithelial cancer than in non-epithelial tumor, and MMP-9, Hpa and CL were elevated in low grade and advanced stage compared to high grade and early stage. The sensitivity for diagnosis of ovarian malignant tumor from high to low was CL, Hpa and MMP-9, and the specificity was MMP-9, CL and Hpa. The united diagnosis model was established and showed the sensitivity and specificity of combined detection were 84.6% and 82.1%, respectively, which were significantly higher than a single tumor marker.

Conclusion: Serum MMP-9, Hpa and CL were correlated with ovarian malignant tumor and the combined detection of which may be valuable for clinical diagnosis of ovarian malignant tumor.