SERUM M3 M21 IN OVARIAN-CANCER PATIENTS

Cytokeratins are polypeptides that constitute a subclass of intermedia te filaments in epithelial cells, The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the serum evaluation of M3/M21 in patients with ovarian cancer, This retrospective study comprises 75 pa tients suffering from ovarian cancer FIGO stages la-lll, M3/M21 reache d a sensitivity of 78%, a specificity of 85%, a PPV of 89% and a NPV o f 83% using a cut-off level of 45 U 1(-1). Forty-four women developed recurrent disease after complete remission during the observation peri od. M3/M21 showed lead time effects in 19 patients, ranging from 2 to 8 months (median 3.2 months). Elevated M3/M21 serum levels before ther apy were associated with a poor overall survival (log-rank test, P = 0 .02). Considering these preliminary results, the value of M3/M21 as a serum tumour marker, i.e. to evaluate the tumour burden, seems promisi ng.