HE-4 in the Diagnosis of Carcinoma of Ovary Presented as Unknown primary Carcinoma: A Case Report

J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2025 Jan-Dec:13:23247096251344701. doi: 10.1177/23247096251344701. Epub 2025 Jun 18.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States, with high mortality due to delayed diagnosis. Serum CA-125 is widely used for screening and monitoring but lacks sensitivity and specificity in some cases. We present a 67-year-old female diagnosed with advanced-stage ovarian cancer despite normal CA-125 levels, with elevated HE4 (human epididymis protein 4), underscoring its diagnostic value. This case highlights the importance of integrating HE4 with CA-125 in ovarian cancer evaluation and emphasizes a multimodal approach to enhance early detection and outcomes.

Keywords: Ca125; carcinoma of ovary; human epididymis protein 4 (HE4); metastasis of unknown primary.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood
  • CA-125 Antigen / blood
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary* / blood
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary* / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary* / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / blood
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Ovarian Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Proteins* / analysis
  • Proteins* / metabolism
  • WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2* / analysis

Substances

  • WAP Four-Disulfide Core Domain Protein 2
  • WFDC2 protein, human
  • CA-125 Antigen
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Proteins