High Preoperative Serum sVCAM-1 Concentration as a Predictor of Early Ovarian Cancer Recurrence
Abstract Background: Role of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in ovarian cancer is largely unclear. It was shown that mesothelial expression mediates tumour cell invasion and is associated with metastases in advanced ovarian cancer.Results: Mean sVCAM-1 serum concentration in all patients before operation was 1564.68 ± 435.65 ng/ml while mean ascites level was 801.84 ±244.35 ng/ml. Follow up period was minimum 27 and the maximum 58 months. Patients were divided in two groups according to time to recurrence. Group A: 20 patients with disease progress or relapse within 12 months (mean serum level 1660.54±417.93 ng/ml; mean ascites level 827.92±290.36) and group B: 17 patients with tumour relapse after more than 12 months (mean serum level 451.91±441.15ng/ml; mean ascites level 771.16±179.93). There was statistically significant difference in serum concentration and not in ascites concentrations of sVCAM-1, grade, histology and stage and tumour between the groups. There was a correlation between serum and ascites concentrations in group A and not in the patients from group B. Increased sVCAM-1 concentration in serum and ascites relates to advance ovarian cancer.Conclusions: This is the first study demonstrating that higher serum sVCAM-1 concentrations at the time of diagnosis might be predictive for early relapse. Serum sVCAM-1 can be potential marker for ovarian cancer follow-up.