TY - JOUR T1 - Cancer Stem Cell Properties as Factors Predictive of Chemoresistance in Neoadjuvantly-treated Patients with Ovarian Cancer JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 3425 LP - 3431 VL - 36 IS - 7 AU - MARJO PYLVÄS-EEROLA AU - ANNIKKI LIAKKA AU - ULLA PUISTOLA AU - JUSSI KOIVUNEN AU - PEETER KARIHTALA Y1 - 2016/07/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/36/7/3425.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: The nuclear factor erytheroid 2–related factor 2-kelch-like ECH-associated protein (NRF2-KEAP1) system and stem cell-like cancer cells are associated with platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. Our objective was to investigate the possible association between platinum resistance, cellular redox-state regulation and stem cell properties in ovarian cancer. Patients and Methods: Thirty-eight patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were included. All patients had undergone primary diagnostic laparoscopy, platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and debulking surgery. Tumor samples were analyzed for NRF2, KEAP1, protein deglycase 1 (DJ1/PARK7), cluster of differentiation molecules 44 (CD44) and 117 (CD117) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) by immunohistochemistry. Results: Positive pre-treatment expression of CD44 (p=0.013) and stable/increased post-therapy CD44 expression were associated with platinum resistance (p=0.001). Negative pre-treatment expression of cytoplasmic ALDH1 predicted sensitivity to platinum (p=0.017). Pre-treatment nuclear KEAP1 expression was greater in stage II-III cancer (p=0.0003). After neoadjuvant treatment, all samples were nuclear KEAP1-positive (p=0.025) and increased nuclear KEAP1 expression was associated with higher tumor stage (p=0.0001). Conclusion: CD44 and cytoplasmic ALHD1 could be potential indicators of platinum resistance during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. ER -