Heat shock protein 27: an independent prognostic indicator of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is produced in response to pathophysiologic stress in animal cells. The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively whether HSP27 was associated with known prognostic factors as well as survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.


METHODS
Ninety-nine patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma were studied. Slides were prepared from fresh tissue. Patient records were examined for FIGO stage, grade, histology, level of cytoreduction, and survival.


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical staining for HSP27 was not related to histologic grade, level of cytoreduction or histologic subtype. A statistically significant difference in HSP27 staining was found in relation to FIGO stage (P = 0.013). HSP27 staining was found to be an independent predictor of 2-year survival in these patients (P = 0.041).


CONCLUSIONS
The level of HSP27 significantly decreases as the FIGO stage increases and is an independent prognostic indicator of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
Geisler
J P
JP
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Vincent Hospital and Health Care Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Geisler
H E
HE
Tammela
J
J
Wiemann
M C
MC
Zhou
Z
Z
Miller
G A
GA
Crabtree
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins