Applied Chemical Engineering

Evaluation of Biochemical Markers in Iraqi Women Patients with Ovarian Cancer

Aqeela Hayder Majeed

College of medicine, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq

Henan Dh Skheel Aljebori

University of Al Mustansiriyah, Baghdad, Iraq

Kawakeb N. A. Abdullae

Iraqi National Cancer Research Centre, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq*

Montadher Ali Mahdi

Iraqi National Cancer Research Centre, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq*

Kareem Salim Abod

Al-Nukhba University College, Baghdad, Iraq, for academic evaluation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ace.v9i1.5877

Keywords: Ovarian cancer, benign, tumor, HE4, CEA.

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Abstract

Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women, largely due to late-stage diagnosis and the lack of reliable early detection tools. This study evaluated selected biochemical markers in Iraqi women with epithelial ovarian cancer compared with those having benign ovarian tumors to assess their potential diagnostic value. The study included 100 women aged 30–65 years, divided into two groups based on histopathological diagnosis: 50 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer and 50 with benign ovarian tumors. Blood samples were analyzed for Human Epididymal Protein 4 (HE4), Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA), albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and glucose. HE4 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while other parameters were determined using automated biochemical analyzers. Data on menopausal status and family history of ovarian cancer were also collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 18, with significance set at P < 0.05. HE4 levels were significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients (128 ± 12.3 pg/mL) compared with those with benign tumors (54 ± 8.44 pg/mL; p < 0.001). Conversely, CEA and albumin levels were significantly lower in the cancer group, while AST showed limited discriminatory value and glucose levels did not differ significantly between groups. Additionally, ovarian cancer patients were more frequently postmenopausal and had a positive family history. These findings indicate that HE4 demonstrates superior diagnostic performance over traditional markers and supports its incorporation into diagnostic algorithms for ovarian cancer in Iraqi women, warranting further validation in larger, multi-center studies.

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