Immunoexpression of CAS protein is augmented in high grade serous ovarian tumors.

Ovarian cancer is one of the most important causes of death from gynecological malignancies in Poland. Recent investigations took a note of possible relationship between tumor histological grading and immunoexpression of apoptosis and proliferation related proteins in serous ovarian cancers. The aim of the study was to assess the immunoexpression of CAS protein in serous ovarian tumors of different histological grade, as well as to find possible relationships between this immunoexpression and tumor proliferation activity expressed by immuneexpression of Ki-67 protein. The analysis comprised of 66 women diagnosed and treated for malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. The immunoexpression of CAS protein was assessed semiquantitatively whereas immunoexpression of Ki-67 was performed using computer image analysis system. On immunohistochemical examinations it was found a significantly higher immunoexpression of both examined proteins in invasive serous ovarian cancers than in cystadenomas. Also, the significant positive correlation has been shown between immunoexpression of Ki-67 and CAS protein in particular group of tumors. In conclusion, our data suggest that increased immunoexpression of CAS protein in serous ovarian tumors may be useful in identifying the patients with more aggressive disease.