Detection of p105 (c-erbB-2, HER2/neu) serum levels by a new ELISA in patients with ovarian carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Immunohistochemical detection of the oncogene c-erbB-2 (HER2/neu) has been shown to be an important prognostic marker in ovarian cancer. In this study we evaluated a new developed polyclonal detector antibody-based ELISA for the extracellular domain of p185 to determine whether the soluble oncoprotein fragment p105 can be detected in the serum of ovarian cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relationship between p105 serum levels and various tumor parameters in 53 patients with newly diagnosed, untreated ovarian cancer was studied. Serum specimens were obtained prior initial surgery, and p105 levels were determined using a new developed, polyclonal detector antibody-based human neu quantitative ELISA assay.

RESULTS

Using the polyclonal detector antibody-based ELISA, elevated p105 serum levels were not related to tumor stage, grade, histology and residual tumor after primary surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that particular statements concerning the preoperatively taken p105 level using the polyclonal antibody-based ELISA in patients with primary ovarian cancer cannot be brawn yet.