The HE4 blood test is ordered to determine either the recurrence or progression of ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer can recur in women who have been cancer-free for some time, so this blood test is often part of a recall program where progress is monitored. It is also used to determine if the current course of treatment for the disease is being effective.
The HE4 blood test was approved by the FDA in 2008. It is used to measure the level of proteins that are in the blood of the same name. Although ovarian cancer is primarily why the HE4 protein is present, there are other reasons that can be behind the increase as well. Unless a cancer diagnosis has been confirmed, this test is used to determine the possibility that ovarian cancer may be present.
Does the HE4 Blood Test Always Detect Cancer?
The HE4 blood test is not 100% accurate. If ovarian cancer is suspected, it may be ordered in conjunction with the CA125 test to detect cancer antigens. In a study at the Mayo clinic, the success rates of the HE4 test were about 72%, while the CA125 test had a success rate of about 43%. This is why the combination of the two tests is often ordered. It increases the chances of an ovarian malignancy being found.
It is important to note that women who have a pelvic mass that is benign will also test positive for the HE4 protein. Patients who have a positive result from this test should consult with their doctor immediately about their symptoms and what the chances of a mass being malignant would be in their specific circumstances.
The combination of the two tests has been able to classify 3 out 4 benign tumors that were low risk accurately and up to 9 out of 10 high risk malignant masses. Research has also noted that the HE4 test is positive in more than 50% of patients who had a negative CA125 test.
If the HE4 blood test has been ordered, then the blood draw can happen on the same day it is ordered. Be sure to take all medications as prescribed and eat a regular diet.
Why Is It Important To Act Quickly On the HE4 Results?
In the United States, more than 20,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the next 12 months. It’s the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancers. Unlike other common cancers in women, however, the same methods of detection that breast cancer have been able to introduce do not exist. Many women with early stage ovarian cancer have no symptoms that are obvious in nature.
The average age of diagnosis for ovarian cancer is 63, with nearly 9 out of 10 cases being in women above the age of 45. The 5 year survival rate of ovarian cancer when it is detected in its early stages is 93%, but only 1 or 2 women out of 10 will have their cancer detected at that stage. More than 60% of women are diagnosed at Stage 3 and the 5 year survival rate is just 27% at that level.
The HE4 test helps to screen for the different tumors that can develop. Ovarian cancer isn’t actually a single disease. It isn’t useful for actual screening, but it does detect recurrence, discriminates the pelvic masses, and monitors treatment. The results are funneled into a patient’s ROMA scores to determine the likelihood of risk. That score will then determine potential treatment options, not the test itself.
It May Be Difficult To Obtain the HE4 Test
Since it was just approved in 2008 for use in the United States, the HE4 blood test may not be widely available in some areas. This may mean women would need to travel to the closest provider of the test to have it completed or have a blood draw taken locally and then have the test shipped out to a provider. Because of this, the results of the test may not be back for some time.
The goal is to determine if there is a chance of ovarian cancer so that it can be detected in its earliest stages. Using biomarkers like the HE4 test can provide information, but it may not always be accurate information. Since ovarian cancer is such a silent disease, the test is one of the best options that is available today. The results should be carefully consulted with a doctor to determine what your specific test means to your health.
It is also important to remember that a positive test does not mean that there is ovarian cancer present. It may just mean that a pelvic mass is present that isn’t malignant. When used with other testing methods, the HE4 blood test can help to find cancers before they become problematic. In return, this may mean that women in the future have a better chance of defeating cancer once and for all.