Purpose: To clarify the value of AGR2 for diagnosis and prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods: Serum AGR2 from 203 subjects were detected by ELISA, while CA125 and HE4 were determined by enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay. The diagnostic efficacy was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves. Tissue microarray was employed to compare tissue AGR2. Results: Combined detection of AGR2, CA125 and HE4 improved the diagnostic specificity in the discrimination of EOC from healthy controls. Serum AGR2 was significantly higher, while CA125 and HE4 were significantly lower in EOC patients post-operatively. Low AGR2 expression may predict poorer prognosis. Conclusion: Incorporation of AGR2 improved the specificity of CA125 and HE4 in EOC diagnosis, and may act as a tumor suppressor whose low expression in EOC patients predicted poorer outcomes.
Keywords: CA125; HE4; anterior gradient 2; diagnosis and prognosis; epithelial ovarian cancer.