Constitutive activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

AIM

To investigate the expressions of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) and tyrosine-activated Stat3 (p-Stat3) in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) and their relationships with clinical pathological parameters or prognosis.

METHODS

Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expressions of Stat3 and p-Stat3 in EOC, benign ovarian tumors and normal ovarian tissues, after which an analysis of results with clinical pathological or prognosis was given.

RESULTS

The expressions of Stat3 and p-Stat3 in EOC were significantly higher than in normal ovarian epithelial tissues or benign ovarian tumor tissues (P < 0.0125) and the expression of Stat3 protein was highly correlated with the expression of p-Stat3 protein (P < 0.01). The positive rate of Stat3 in stages of III and IV (96.9%) was significantly higher than in stages of I and II (72.2%) (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, p-Stat3 expression was significantly correlated with disease stage, degree of differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Along with higher clinical stage (P < 0.05), p-Stat3 expression was gradually increased. The p-Stat3 expression was negatively correlated with the prognosis of EOC patients (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Overexpression and overactivation of Stat3 was found in EOC tissues, and the constitutive activation of Stat3 signaling pathway may play an important role in the invasion and prognosis of EOC.