Serum haptoglobin, CA 125 and interleukin 6 levels in malignant and non-malignant tumors of the ovary.

In sera of women with malignant and non-malignant ovarian tumors, concentrations of the following proteins were determined: haptoglobin, measured by the reactions either with hemoglobin (Hp-Hb) or with concanavalin A (Hp-Con A), CA 125 antigen and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Besides preoperative data, obtained from all the patients and the group of healthy women, in the patients with ovarian cancer (III/IV FIGO stages) effects of administration of cytostatics were measured by monitoring changes in the levels of the examined parameters through the course of the therapy. All the results were submitted to statistical evaluation which showed differences and correlations among definite groups (normal/non-malignant, normal/cancers, non-malignant/cancers). Similar results were obtained for Hp-Hb and CA 125 determination. Moreover, a correlation between haptoglobin level and age was found. Patterns of monitoring revealed a surprising absence of Hp-Con A interaction in some cases.