The Role of Akt2 and CA-125 Serum Levels as Predictors for Successful Cytoreduction in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Surgery

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is one of the common causes of cancer deaths in gynecological malignancies in Indonesia, and indeed the world. Of all classifications of ovarian cancer, the epithelial subtype shows the highest incidence. Cytoreductive surgery is a determinant of prognosis for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. One possible way to predict the results of cytoreductive surgery is to measure preoperative tumor marker levels. This study aimed to assess the validity of serum levels of Protein kinase Bβ (Akt2) and cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) as outcome predictors for cytoreduction in epithelial ovarian cancer surgery. This was an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study. Akt2 and CA-125 serum levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoassay technique, respectively. Mean levels of Akt2 and CA-125 were significantly different between optimal and suboptimal cytoreduction groups (p < 0.05). The cut-off point (COP) value obtained for Akt2 was 1.20 U/mL with area under curve (AUC) value of 68.9%, while the COP for CA-125 was 222.50 U/mL with AUC value of 75.3 % (p < 0.05). If the preoperative Akt2 serum level was greater than 1.20 U/mL, and preoperative CA-125 level was greater than 222.5 U/mL, the probability of suboptimal cytoreduction was increased. Thus, our study highlights the possibility for Akt2 and CA-125 levels to be used as serum biomarkers in predicting the success of cytoreductive surgery.