Loss of expression of EphB1 protein in serous carcinoma of ovary associated with metastasis and poor survival.

Aberrant expression of receptors tyrosine kinase of Eph gene in human cancers is extensively documented. We previously found that EphB1 subtype is down-regulated in gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Fore the more, decreased expression of EphB1 is related to invasion and metastasis in cancers. There is no published data regarding the role of EphB1 in ovarian cancer, which is the focus of the present study. The expression of EphB1 protein was determined in tissues from 74 patients with serous ovarian carcinoma and 12 normal ovarian epithelial tissues. The expression level of EphB1 protein in serous ovarian carcinoma was analyzed with respect to clinicopathological parameters and survival. EphB1 protein was positively stained in 12 normal ovarian epithelial samples, and negatively stained in 32 out of 74 (43.2%) serous ovarian cancers. Loss of expression of EphB1 protein was associated with higher tumor grade (P=0.006), metastasis (P=0.049) and high proliferative index Ki67 expression (P=0.022), but not with FIGO stage (P=0.0937), age at diagnosis (P=0.624), and diameter of carcinoma (P=0.108). In addition, loss of EphB1 protein in serous ovarian carcinoma was associated with a significantly worse overall survival (P=0.015). Our data indicate that loss of EphB1 protein is associated with metastasis and poorer survival in patients with serous ovarian cancer. EphB1 may be used as a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target in serous ovarian carcinoma.