Sensibilidad y especificidad de los marcadores tumorales CA-125 versus HE4 en el diagnóstico precoz de cáncer de ovario: revisión sistemática

Abstract

Background: Ovarian neoplasms are a leading cause of gynecologic cancer mortality worldwide, primarily due to delayed diagnosis. Serum biomarkers play a key role in detecting this disease, with CA125 being the most historically used. However, its low specificity has prompted the search for more accurate markers, such as human epididymal protein 4 (HE4), which has demonstrated superior specificity in differentiating between benign and malignant masses. Objective: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the CA-125 versus HE4 tumor markers in the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer through a systematic literature review. Methodology: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted, consulting scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library including studies published both in English and Spanish within the past decade. Observational and diagnostic studies reporting data on the sensitivity and specificity of CA125 and HE4 will be included. The QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess methodological quality and ensure the validity of the findings obtained. Expected Results: HE4 is anticipated to exhibit higher specificity than CA125, thereby reducing false positives in ovarian cancer diagnosis. The findings of this review may contribute to improving early detection strategies and optimizing the use of biomarkers in clinical practice. Conclusions: CA125 and HE4 are key biomarkers for ovarian cancer diagnosis, but they exhibit important differences in performance regarding their sensitivity and specificity. Keywords: ovarian cancer, CA125, human epididymal protein 4