Preoperative Serum Levels of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, HER2, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Malignant and Benign Ovarian Tumors

BackgroundEpidermal growth factor receptors ([EGFRs]; EGFR/HER1 and ErbB2/HER2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are essential to tumor growth and angiogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the serum levels of these potential biomarkers in benign, borderline, and malignant ovarian tumors.Patients and MethodsSerum from 233 patients (75 serous ovarian/tubal/peritoneal cancers, 24 borderline tumors, 110 benign ovarian tumors, and 24 with normal ovaries) were analyzed for EGFR, HER2, and VEGF using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).ResultsThe median EGFR serum level in patients with ovarian cancer was 51 ng/mL, and this was significantly lower than the median serum levels in borderline tumors (P = .0054) and benign ovarian tumors (P < .000001) as well as in patients with normal ovaries (P = .00028). The HER2 median serum level in patients with ovarian cancer was 10.2 ng/mL and not significantly different from any of the other patient groups. The median VEGF serum level in patients with ovarian cancer was 449 pg/mL and significantly higher than the levels found in borderline tumors (P = .021) and benign tumors (P = .0087) as well as in patients with normal ovaries (P = .00024).ConclusionSignificantly lower serum EGFR levels and higher VEGF levels were noted in patients with ovarian cancer compared with the levels in benign tumors and normal ovaries. Vascular endothelial growth factor and EGFR could have clinical importance as serum biomarkers but need further investigation.