Association between fibronectin expression and prognosis in ovarian carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Fibronectin is involved in tumour neovascularisation and metastasis, prevents apoptosis and is considered to be immunosuppressive. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of fibronectin expression in ovarian carcinoma.


METHODS
Records and archival tumour tissue from 211 German women with ovarian carcinoma were reviewed. Total fibronectin was determined immunohistochemically (clone N-294). Univariate and residual Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to correlate fibronectin expression with established prognostic indicators and overall survival.


RESULTS
Fibronectin expression correlated significantly with tumour stage (p = 0.002) and tumour growth fraction (p = 0.005). The degree of expression had a significant adverse influence on overall survival even after other prognostic factors had been excluded (p = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
Fibronectin is an important prognostic factor in ovarian cancer and may be central to tumour progression. These findings offer new treatment possibilities since several agents may antagonise the mechanism of fibronectin expression.
Franke
Folker E
FE
Institute of Pathology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Langhansstrasse 10, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
Von Georgi
Richard
R
Zygmunt
Marek
M
Münstedt
Karsten
K
D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
D005353:Fibronectins