Early Detection and Prognosis of Ovarian Cancer Using Serum YKL-40

YKL-40 is a secreted glycoprotein (chitinase family). We compared YKL-40 with two ovarian cancer serum markers, CA125 and CA15-3, for the detection of early-stage ovarian cancer. Serum YKL-40 levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 46 healthy subjects, 61 high-risk individuals, 33 patients with benign gynecologic processes, and 50 preoperative patients subsequently diagnosed with predominantly early-stage ovarian cancer. Serum CA125 and CA15-3 values were obtained. Median YKL-40 level was 28 ng/mL (range, 15 to 166 ng/mL) for healthy subjects, 36 ng/mL (range, 9 to 69 ng/mL) for high-risk individuals without prior cancer, 44.5 ng/mL (range, 5 to 133 ng/mL) for high-risk patients with prior breast cancer, and 38 ng/mL (range, 5 to 67 ng/mL) for individuals with benign gynecologic processes (P = NS). Median preoperative YKL-40 level for ovarian cancer patients was 94 ng/mL (range, 17 to 517 ng/mL; P /= 62 ng/mL) in 36 (72%) of 50 patients compared with 23 (46%) of 50 and 13 (26%) of 50 patients for CA125 and CA15-3 (P