Diagnostics, Vol. 13, Pages 399: The Diagnostic Role of FGF 21 in Endometrial Cancer and Other Pathologies of the Uterine Corpus

Diagnostics, Vol. 13, Pages 399: The Diagnostic Role of FGF 21 in Endometrial Cancer and Other Pathologies of the Uterine Corpus

Diagnostics doi: 10.3390/diagnostics13030399

Authors: Anna Jagodzińska Anita Chudecka-Głaz Kaja Michalczyk Ewa Pius-Sadowska Sylwia Wieder-Huszla Anna Jurczak Bogusław Machaliński

Endometrial cancer is becoming an increasing problem. Taking into account its pathomechanisms, we aimed to investigate whether FGF 21, an important metabolism regulator, could be used as a biomarker for endometrial cancer. The study included 233 patients who were classified into five subgroups depending on the result of the histological examination: endometrial carcinomas, sarcomas, endometrial polyps, fibroids, and normal endometrium. Statistically significantly higher FGF 21 levels were found in patients diagnosed with malignant lesions (p < 0.001). FGF 21 concentration correlated with the degree of cellular differentiation (p = 0.020) and the presence of lymph node metastases (p = 0.009). The diagnostic performance characteristics of FGF 21 as an EC diagnostic marker demonstrated an AUC of 0.677. Of all of the assessed biomarkers, FGF 21 had the highest specificity (90%), yet limited sensitivity (41%). Additionally, HE4 and CA 125 were confirmed to have roles as EC biomarkers, with a higher accuracy for HE4 (79% vs. 72%).