Overexpression of cyclin D1 is associated with poor survival in epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE

In order to assess the prognostic role of the cell-cycle regulator cyclin D1 in epithelial ovarian cancer, 70 patients have been studied during an observation period of 8 years.

METHODS

The cyclin D1 protein content was analyzed by Western blotting, and classed as negative, positive and highly positive by densitometric scanning. The relationship between cyclin D1 expression and clinicopathological variables was determined. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were also carried out.

RESULTS

Patients with highly positive cyclin D1 tumors had shorter overall survival than patients with positive cyclin D1 (median survival 31 vs. 49 months; p = 0.058). Furthermore, in patients with stage III/IV tumors and residual disease greater than 2 cm, cyclin D1 expression significantly influenced clinical outcome (p = 0.047 and 0.040, respectively). In the Cox's regression model, cyclin D1 expression and residual disease were identified as the most important predictors of survival (p = 0.016 and 0.002, respectively). In patients with high cyclin D1 expression and residual disease after debulking surgery greater than 2 cm, the relative risks of death were to 2.48 and 3.7, respectively, compared to their correspondent counterparts.

CONCLUSION

The overexpression of cyclin D1 is significantly related to a more aggressive tumor phenotype and poor prognosis in ovarian carcinoma.