Prognostic value of nuclear DNA quantification and cyclin A expression in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation of DNA ploidy, S-phase fraction (SPF) and the expression of cyclin A to the clinical prognostic factors in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.


METHODS
A prospective analysis was performed on 46 ovarian tumor patients. The DNA ploidy and SPF were determined by flow cytometry and the expression of cyclin A was measured by immunohistochemical staining.


RESULTS
Compared with benign and borderline tumors, the malignant tumors expressed higher levels of cyclin A (P=0.007), more aneuploid cells (P=0.018) and higher SPF (P=0.015). With regard to DNA ploidy and the clinical prognostic factors, aneuploid cells increased with tumor grade (P=0.011), the disease stage (P=0.009) and residual volume (P=0.001). When residual tumor was more than 2 cm, the expression of cyclin A was increased (P=0.043). Three-year survival was low for patients with tumors expressing cyclin A in over 10% of cells (P=0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest that the assessment of the DNA ploidy, SPF and the expression of cyclin A may provide important information for predicting the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer.
Yoon
Bo Sung
BS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Cancer Clinic, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Young Tae
YT
Kim
Sunghoon
S
Lee
Chong Seung
CS
Kim
Jae Wook
JW
Kim
Jae Hoon
JH
Kim
Sang Wun
SW
Cho
Nam Hoon
NH
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D019925:Cyclin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D011003:Ploidies; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016196:S Phase; D015996:Survival Rate
D015415:Biomarkers; D019925:Cyclin A; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005819:Genetic Markers