Nuclear β-catenin positivity as a predictive marker of long-term survival in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND

Classical features as histomorphology, grade, FIGO stage, and residual tumour mass have strong prognostic value in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinomas (AEOC). Most AEOCs are associated with early recurrence and poor overall survival (OS). Despite of early recurrence, general poor outcome, both high grade tumours or tumours with advanced FIGO stage at the time of diagnosis, in some of such cases, long-term survival (LTS) has been recorded . The aim of this study was to compare the utility of "classical" prognostic factors to molecular factors such as β-catenin- E-cadherin-, mutated TP53-, and MiB-1 (Ki-67) labelling index determination in predicting long-term survival.

METHODS

The expression of β-catenin, E-cadherin, Ki-67, and p53 was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in AEOC. Correlation was sought for between expression of these proteins and the status of classical features vis-á-vis overall survival of patients. Statistical evaluation of the data included Kaplan-Meier analysis, the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS

As expected, residual tumour size was an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS (univariate analysis: p=0.003, multivariate analysis: p=0.005). Nuclear expression of β-catenin in advanced ovarian cancer of LTS patients proved to be not only an independent favourable predictor of OS (univariate analysis: p=0.025, multivariate analysis: p=0.041) but also showed strong correlation with platinum sensitivity and platinum re-induction.

CONCLUSIONS

Translocation of stabilized β-catenin from cytoplasm to the nucleus plays an important role in predicting platinum sensitivity. It also seems to support the chance for platinum re-induction in AEOC and thus enhances long-term survival.