Assessment of selected cytokines, proteins, and growth factors in the peritoneal fluid of patients with ovarian cancer and benign gynecological conditions.

Objectives: The ovarian tumor microenvironment, ie, the peritoneal fluid, is an intriguing research subject. The goal of this study was to assess the behavior of selected cytokines and growth factors within the peritoneal fluid in pathologies associated with ascites and to assess the relationship between the levels of these substances and select prognostic factors of ovarian cancer.

Methods: A total of 74 patients were enrolled in the study, including 36 patients with ovarian cancer and 38 patients with benign gynecological conditions.

Serum HE4, CA125, YKL-40, bcl-2, cathepsin-L and prediction optimal debulking surgery, response to chemotherapy in ovarian cancer.

Background: The most important prognostic factor in the ovarian cancer is optimal cytoreduction. The neoadjuvant chemotherapy, an only optional method of treatment in this case and is still the subject of debate. The object of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of markers: CA 125, HE4, YKL-40 and bcl-2 as well as cathepsin L in predicting optimal cytoreduction and response to chemotherapy.