Ulex europeus agglutinin-I binding as a potential prognostic marker in ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Ovarian cancer represents the malignant tumour of the female genital tract with the worst prognosis, mainly caused by early intraperitoneal spread. Cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions play a functionally important role in this spread and are both mediated by the cell membrane. Changes in the glycosylation of the cell membrane, as detected by lectin histochemistry, are sometimes associated with a poor prognosis.


METHODS
The expression of lectin binding of 164 ovarian cancer patients was analysed and the staining results were correlated with the clinical data of the patients.


RESULTS
The univariate and multivariate statistical analysis revealed an independent prognostic significance for Ulex europeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I) binding.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that UEA-I binding can serve as a prognostic factor in ovarian cancer.
Blonski
Katharina
K
Department of Anatomy II. Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
Milde-Langosch
Karin
K
Bamberger
Ana-Maria
AM
Osterholz
Tina
T
Utler
Christian
C
Berger
Jürgen
J
Löning
Thomas
T
Schumacher
Udo
U
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001665:Binding Sites; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods
D037121:Plant Lectins; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins