Abstract: Objection To explore the expression significance of serum tumor necrosis factor-α inducing protein 8 (TNFAIP8), human epididymal protein-4 (HE4), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in ovarian cancer, and the correlation between the above indicators and their significance in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Methods 88 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer in our hospital from August 2019 to October 2022 were selected as the study group, and 50 patients diagnosed with benign ovarian lesions in our hospital during the same period were selected as the case control group. The differences in serum TNFAIP 8, HE4, and FSH between the two groups were compared. According to the pathological examination results, the study group patients were classified into FIGO stages, and the differences in serum TNFAIP 8, HE4, and FSH levels among ovarian cancer patients at different stages were compared, Using Pearson correlation analysis to explore the correlation between serum TNFAIP8, HE4, and FSH in ovarian cancer patients, and calculating the diagnostic efficacy of serum TNFAIP8, HE4, and FSH in ovarian cancer by plotting ROC curves. Results The serum levels of TNFAIP8, HE4, and FSH in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). According to the pathological examination results, the study group patients were divided into Ⅰ+Ⅱ subgroup and Ⅲ+Ⅳ subgroup. The comparison showed that the serum levels of TNFAIP 8, HE4, and FSH in the Ⅲ+Ⅳ subgroup patients were significantly higher than those in the Ⅰ+Ⅱ subgroup patients (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum TNFAIP8 levels in ovarian cancer patients were positively correlated with their HE4 and FSH levels (r=0.221, P<0.05;r=0.594, P<0.05), while HE4 levels were positively correlated with their FSH levels (r=0.163, P<0.05). Draw serum TNFAIP8, HE4, and FSH levels to differentiate ovarian cancer ROC curves, and calculate their AUC as 0.924 (95%CI=0.969~0.979, P<0.05), 0.909 (95% CI=0.850~0.967, P<0.05), and 0.757 (95%CI=0.659~0.856,P<0.05), respectively. Conclusion The serum TNFAIP8, HE4 and FSH levels will show abnormal elevated manifestations, and they may be related to the pathological stage of patients, so the above factors can be considered in the differential diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Key words: ovarian cancer, tumor necrosis factor-α inducing protein 8, human epididymal protein-4, follicle stimulating hormone, diagnostic effectiveness