Purpose: To investigate the serum concentrations of anti-heat shock protein 20 (anti-Hsp20) antibodies in women with ovarian cancer at different clinical stages, and the relationship between these concentrations and tumor progression.
Materials and methods: Blood samples were obtained from 72 patients undergoing surgery for ovarian cancer, 21 women with ovarian carcinoid, and 42 healthy women. Anti-Hsp20 antibody concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Mean anti-Hsp20 antibody concentrations were significantly lower in patients with ovarian cancer than in the control group. The anti-Hsp20 antibody concentrations were negatively correlated with ovarian cancer malignancy.
Conclusions: The present findings suggest that anti-Hsp20 antibodies may play a protective role against ovarian cancer progression, and that anti-Hsp20 antibodies may be a new index for the early diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.