What type of study is this?

This is a Systematic Review study (also classified as: Meta-Analysis).

September 10, 2025Open Access

Blood-Based Biomarkers to Identify and Monitor Recurrent Endometrial Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

ACAnisha ChitrakarUniversity of Leicester AAAyisha A AshmoreUniversity of Nottingham SBSylwia BujkiewiczUniversity of Leicester

Key Points

cf/ctDNA showed superior sensitivity at 0.87 in identifying endometrial cancer recurrence.
The specificity for CA125 was notable at 0.91, highlighting its role in diagnosis.
This systematic review analyzed 25 studies focusing on biomarkers for endometrial cancer recurrence.
Future research should explore blood-based biomarkers' potential impact on survival post-recurrence.

Abstract

Objectives: The detection of endometrial cancer recurrence is primarily through patient reported symptoms and can occur many years after primary treatment. Investigation of suspected endometrial cancer recurrence requires clinical examination, imaging, and if a lesion is identified a biopsy for pathological analysis. A blood-based biomarker could support the identification and confirmation of endometrial cancer recurrence. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken to identify studies that reported the use of biomarkers in the monitoring and/or diagnosis of endometrial cancer recurrence (PROSPERO registration CRD42021226204). MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and OpenGrey were searched up to 15th November 2024. Studies were assessed using QUADAS-2. Meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity was carried out using Bayesian random effects univariate meta-analytic models for sensitivity and specificity individually. Results: Of the 10,643 references identified, 142 studies underwent full-text assessment and data was extracted from 25 studies. CA125, HE4, circulating free or tumour DNA (cf/ctDNA), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were the most extensively studied biomarkers. Although ten studies investigated the use of more than one biomarker, the majority were comparing rather than combining their diagnostic ability. Sensitivity was highest for cf/ctDNA, 0.87 (95% CrI: 0.63, 0.99), followed by HE4, 0.74 (95% CrI 0.51-0.90). Specificity was highest for CA125; 0.91 (95% CrI: 0.77, 0.99) followed by cf/ctDNA 0.89 (95% CrI: 0.63-0.99). Conclusions: cf/ctDNA had had superior diagnostic accuracy to detect endometrial cancer recurrence compared to CA125 and HE4. Given the concerning rise in endometrial cancer mortality, future research should focus on a potential role for a blood-based biomarker in facilitating the identification of endometrial cancer recurrence and the impact on survival following recurrence.

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