ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In this study the use of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) as tumor marker for ovarian cancer is evaluated. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 74 patients, 43 of these were affected by ovarian carcinoma and 31 by benign ovarian tumors. The M-CSF levels were assayed with an ELISA method and compared with those of 148 healthy women. CA 125 levels were also evaluated. RESULTS: In healthy women the M-CSF levels were 770.4 +/- 145.9 U/ml, the upper limit of normal level was considered 1056 U/ml. Serum M-CSF levels were significantly high in patients with ovarian cancer (1425.3 +/- 1007.1 U/ml; p < 0.001) and in 29 of the 43 patients exceeded the limit of 1056 U/ml. No differences were observed among the histologic types. There were no significant differences between patients with benign ovarian pathology and healthy women. No definite relationship was found with CA 125, but evaluating at the same time M-CSF and CA 125 positive results were found in 95.3% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore M-CSF can be considered a marker for ovarian cancer, and the assay of its serum levels can be particularly useful in association with those of CA 125.