Aims: Ovarian cancer is the most common lethal malignancy female reproduction system which is diagnosed in advanced stages in the majority of cases. The main purpose of this study was to compare serum level of β-hCG tumor markers, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity in healthy subjects and patients with ovarian cancer and to investigate the possibility of using these factors as markers of ovarian cancer.
Materials & Methods: This case-control study was carried out on people referring to Seyedoshohada Hospital in Isfahan and 44 women with ovarian cancer and 44 healthy women were studied from February 2012 to April 2012. β-hCG tumor marker was measured using ELISA method and serum calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity was measured by the photometric method. Independent T-test was used to compare studied indices between two groups.
Findings: A significant difference was observed only between β-hCG mean of patient group (2.96±1.30 units per liter) and healthy group (2.27±1.17 units per liter) (p=0.014). The mean concentration of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase activity were not significant between patients and healthy groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: β-hCG serum level in ovarian cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy is more than healthy subjects. Also, serum level of calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity in ovarian cancer patients under therapy is not associated with the disease status.
