Abstract
Background: Several oncogenes and onco-suppressor genes have been implicated in epithelial ovarian carcinogenesis, but their clinical significance is not clear and conflicting data have been found in various studies. Patients and Methods: The immunohistochemical expression of HER-2, p53 and Bcl-2 proteins was investigated in a cohort of 95 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (stages IIc-IV). These patients participated in a phase III randomized clinical trial and were treated either with paclitaxel/carboplatin, or paclitaxel/carboplatin alternating with paclitaxel/cisplatin. Results: Positive immunostaining for HER-2, p53 and Bcl-2 proteins was found in 18%, 70.5% and 69.5% of the cases, respectively. In multivariate analysis, older patients (<63 vs. ≥63 years, p<0.001), worse grade (I-II vs. III, p=0.04) and p53 expression (negative vs. positive, p=0.002) were significant prognostic factors independently associated with survival. Conclusion: p53 status along with age and grade appear to be independent prognostic factors for survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.
Footnotes
- Received April 12, 2006.
- Revision received December 7, 2006.
- Accepted January 2, 2007.
- Copyright© 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved