Prognostic Markers in Ovarian Carcinoma - Retrospective Study

Overview

Ovarian carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in women. The high mortality is due mostly to the fact that the tumour is frequently diagnosed in advanced stages. The aim of our study was to find immunohistochemically detectable significant prognostic markers for invasive ovarian carcinoma. There were two areas of research: the expression of hormonal receptors by tumour cells, and the examination of proliferation activity of the tumour cell by means of antibody Ki-67. Tumour samples from 96 patients with carcinoma of ovary were evaluated (age 27–82 years, mean 55.2 years). Size of residual tumour (p = 0.00002), FIGO stage (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.018), expression of progesterone receptors (p = 0.004), coexpression of steroid receptors (p = 0.039), proliferation activity of the tumour cell (p = 0.04), and chemotherapy (p = 0.018) were significant predictors of survival in univariate analysis. Borderline significance was found in other evaluated parameters: grade (p = 0.063) and histology of carcinoma (p = 0.085). Expression of estrogen receptors and radiotherapy were not correlated to survival in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that only clinical parameters were significant prognostic factors: size of residual tumor (p < 0.0000), chemotherapy (p = 0.0009), radiotherapy (p = 0.0097), and age (p = 0.0048).

Key words:
ovarian carcinoma – prognosis – steroid receptors – proliferative activity – Ki-67