I was diagnosed with Granulosa Cell his March. My oncologist is watching Inhibin A, Inhibin B, Estridol and CA125. Be aware that many times Granulosa will not change any of these markers, you could have a recurrence and all markers be stable. My onc checks my blood evry 4 months. I have read articles that suggest INH B is a better marker for Granulosa. The problem is, there are so few of us with this tumor, that there is not enough research to be definitvie about anything. These tumors have a tendency to recur after 10 or even 20 years.
The below Hospitals and labs were listed in a journal article with regard to the use of Inhibin A testing
Diagnostic System Laboratories (Canada) Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I am sorry you have to go threw this it is very stressfull to have this constantly hanging over your head. My wife was recently Dx with granulosa Cell cancer( GCT) Jan 2010 .
Tests like sonograms, Cat scans and MRI's along with blood tests like CA125, Inhibin A&B, MIS and CEA are just used as a guides for the Dr's to help assist in making a diagnoses(Dx). The blood test CA-125 is a test used by Dr's as a guide to determine if you have the most common form of ovarian cancer, approximately 80% of all ovarian cancers are epitheal ovarian cancer which is cancer of the cells on the surface of your ovary. Please keep in mind that CA-125 can be elevated if your menstruating and some other cuases of inflamation..
There are other types of ovarian cancer that are hormone driven and depending which form a person has there will be excess symptoms of that specific hormone. This is the type my wife was Dx with granulosa cell ca. These group type are called sex cord -stromal tumors. These type of tumors have specific markes that the Dr's use just like ca-125 to aide in their dx of epitheal ovarian ca. They are Inhibin A&B and MIS. Please keep in mind if and only if you have a dx of these form of tumors there is a missconception that these tumors are always benign, which is completely false> They are just slow growing tumors as opposed to epitheal ovarian cancer.
Granulosa cell tumors often produce estrogen, and symptoms related to hyperestrogenism are common. I am curious to know how yours was discovered, what were your symptoms?
My wife's Dr's in Sloan kettering in NYC said she also has nothing to worry about because they removed the ovary fully intact. Removing the ovary fully intact is an indication for possibly no further tumors will develop. They also said no further testing is needed. I have her Inhibin A&B done every 6 months. I am not sure what the Inhibin would be called in Canada. Inhibin is the blood test for estrogen levels.
The hormonal activity of granulosa cell tumors permits the use of a variety of serum tumor markers in the diagnostic evaluation. Clinically, the most useful serum marker for granulosa cell tumors is inhibin, a peptide that is produced by the ovaries in response to follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. Inhibin usually becomes undetectable after menopause, unless produced by certain ovarian tumors,ie; granulosa cell tumors.
An elevated inhibin level in a postmenopausal woman or a premenopausal woman presenting with amenorrhea and infertility is suggestive of the presence of a granulosa cell tumor, but not specific. Although most commercial laboratories only provide assays for inhibin A, serum levels of inhibin B seem to be more frequently elevated If available, we suggest the use of assays that detect both isoforms.
Estradiol was one of the first markers identified in the serum of patients with granulosa cell tumors, however estradiol is not a sensitive marker for the presence of a granulosa cell tumor. Approximately 30 percent of tumors do not produce estradiol.
Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS), which is produced by granulosa cells in the developing follicles, has emerged as a potential tumor marker for granulosa cell tumors. As with inhibin, MIS is typically undetectable in postmenopausal women. Although an elevated MIS level appears to be highly specific for ovarian granulosa cell tumors this test is not available for clinical use. Maybe if you can explain exactly what the test is for and what part of the ovary it may narrow down what the blood test is called
Regards,
Kevin