Serum MAGE-4 protein in ovarian cancer patients

Objective. We measured serum levels of MAGE-4 protein in patients with ovarian cancer to investigate the relationship between serum MAGE-4 positivity and prognosis. Methods. Serum levels of MAGE-4 protein were measured with an ELISA system. Results. Serum levels of MAGE-4 in patients with ovarian cancer were significanty higher than levels in patients with benign diseases. Serum MAGE-4 protein was considered positive in 22% of primary ovarian cancer patients. The positive rate was the highest in sera of patients with surface epithelial-stromal tumors, particularly serous adenocarcinomas (24%). The survival time after a primary surgical operation in ovarian cancer patients with serum MAGE-4 positivity was significantly shorter than that of MAGE-4-negative cases. Conclusion. These results suggest that serum MAGE-4 protein is a potential prognostic factor of reduced survival in ovarian cancer patients. (C) 2000 Academic Press.