The aim of the present study was to assess the relative concentrations of hemoglobin (Hb) species in endometriosis as a possible indicator of malignancy. Electronic absorption spectroscopy was employed to quantify the Hb species present in the cyst fluid collected from 8 patients with endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC), and compared with those present in the cyst fluid of 35 patients with benign endometriotic cysts. The 620/580 nm ratio in the electronic absorption spectrum, which was used as a surrogate indicator of the methemoglobin (metHb)/(oxyhemoglobin+metHb) ratio, was measured in each cyst fluid by ultraviolet/visible grating spectrophotometric microplate reader. The optimal cutoff value was defined according to the analysis of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The sensitivity and specificity of detection were calculated on the basis of the cutoff value to differentiate EAOC from endometriosis. The 620/580 nm ratio of cyst fluid in EAOC patients was much lower than that measured in women with benign cysts (0.389±0.266 vs. 0.666±0.188, P=0.021). ROC curve analysis performed using 0.35 as the optimal cutoff value indicated that the 620/580 nm ratio had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value of 62.5, 100.0, 100.0 and 92.1%, respectively, in the diagnosis of EAOC. In conclusion, metHb is one of the most abundant Hb species in benign cysts, and the absorption 620/580 nm ratio of cyst fluid exhibits high specificity and PPV as a surveillance test for the early detection of malignant transformation of endometriosis. Thus, metallobiology highlights diverse features involved in Hb homeostasis and the pathogenesis of malignant transformation of endometriosis.
Keywords: endometriosis; iron; malignant transformation; methemoglobin; oxyhemoglobin.