Title Prognosis Significance of ZEB2 and TGF-β1 as well as Other Clinical Characteristics in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the prognosis significance of zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) as well as other clinical characteristics in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

METHODS

This retrospective study examined the expressions of ZEB2 and TGF-β1 in 64 EOC specimens, 36 benign ovarian tumor specimens, and 28 normal ovarian specimens by immunohistochemistry. The correlation of the expressions of ZEB2 and TGF-β1 was analyzed by the Spearman rank correlation analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to construct crude survival curves, and the prognostic roles of ZEB2 and TGF-β1 as well as clinical characteristics were evaluated by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTS

The positive expression rates of ZEB2 and TGF-β1 were increased in EOC specimens compared with benign ovarian tumor and normal ovary specimens ( < 0.05), and ZEB2 expression was positively correlated with TGF-β1 expression ( = 0.538, = 0.000). In addition, the overall survival rate of EOC patients was associated with the expressions of ZEB2 and TGF-β1, age, differentiated grade, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, preoperative serum CA125 level, postoperative start time of chemotherapy, and treatment course (all < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that FIGO stage ( = 0.033), TGF-β1 expression ( = 0.043), postoperative start time of chemotherapy ( = 0.009), and treatment course ( = 0.000) were prognostic factors for EOC.

CONCLUSIONS

ZEB2 and TGF-β1 may promote EOC progression, and FIGO stage, TGF-β1 expression, postoperative start time of chemotherapy, and treatment course may be associated with the prognosis of EOC.