Serum human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) as a tumor marker in men with lung cancer.

Background: Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is a reliable tumor marker for ovarian cancer, but only limited data are available on HE4 levels in lung malignancies.

Methods: HE4 levels were measured at diagnosis in 98 men with lung cancer at different stages of the disease, and these results were compared to an age-matched healthy male cohort (n=98). The concentrations of classical tumor markers were also determined, and their efficacy was compared to that of HE4.