PLASMA PREALBUMIN IN WOMEN WITH EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

Background: Epithelial ovarian carcinoma produces steroid hormones tha t may be of prognostic importance. The steroids are mainly bound to pl asma albumin and sex hormone-binding globulin. Alterations in plasma p rotein levels influence hormonal effects. As plasma prealbumin may ref lect changes in the patient's clinical status better than do albumin d eterminations, it is of interest to analyze prealbumin in patients wit h ovarian cancer. Methods: Fifty-one postmenopausal or oophorectomized women with epithelial cancer of the ovary were studied. Plasma prealb umin was analyzed prior to and during chemotherapy. Tumor volumes were evaluated and blood samples were drawn for prealbumin analysis on fou r occasions at monthly intervals. Plasma levels were compared with one control group of postmenopausal women, one group of fertile women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, and one control group of postmenopausal women with nongynecologic disseminated malignant diseas e. Results: Prealbumin conentrations are lower in women with carcinoma of the ovary than in postmenopausal controls and the levels correlate inversely to tumor volume. Prealbumin concentrations are decreased in the large tumor group, advanced tumor stage group and in the control group with nongynecologic disseminated malignant disease. During chemo therapy, plasma prealbumin increases concomitantly with the reduction of tumor volume. Initial plasma prealbumin concentration seems to have prognostic importance. Conclusions: Prealbumin may be a sensitive ind icator of disturbances in protein metabolism. It may reflect changes i n the patient's clinical status better than do albumin determinations. Prealbumin concentration seems to have a prognostic importance in wom en with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Condensation: Prealbumin is stud ied in women with epithelial ovarian carcinoma prior to and during che motherapy, and is found to vary inversely with changes in tumor volume .