Total Inhibin Is a Potential Serum Marker for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Context: Total inhibin is the sum of precursors, subunits, and mature molecules of inhibin, which the normal ovary nearly stops to produce after menopause, whereas ovarian tumors still release. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the serum concentration of total inhibin has the sensitivity/specificity characteristics to become a diagnostic test for epithelial ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women. Design: This was a controlled, cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted at the University of Siena. Patients: Blood specimens were collected from postmenopausal women with: 1) epithelial ovarian cancer, stage II-III (n = 89); 2) benign ovarian tumors (n = 25); 3) breast (n = 10), colon (n = 10), and stomach (n = 10) cancers; and 4) controls (n = 95). In the group of women with epithelial ovarian cancer, blood specimens were also collected after surgical removal of the tumor. In four cases of women with stage IIC mucinous tumor, blood specimens were collected during the...