Evaluation of serum procathepsin B, cystatin B and cystatin C as possible biomarkers of ovarian cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate procathepsin B, as well as endogenous inhibitors of cysteine proteases (cystatin B and cystatin C) in biological fluids as possible biomarkers of ovarian cancer. To observe levels of serum procathepsin B in different age groups.

Study Design: The sample (N=27) of women with gynaecological tumours included 18 patients with ovarian cancer (n=18) and 9 patients with benign ovarian tumours (n=9); 72 healthy women were in the control group.