Prognostic significance of fascin expression in advanced poorly differentiated serous ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
High expression of the actin-bundling protein fascin correlates well with histological grade and clinical stage of ovarian carcinoma. This study addresses fascin expression in advanced poorly differentiated serous ovarian cancer with respect to progression free interval (PFI) and overall survival.


METHODS
Fascin and Ki-67 expression were analysed in paraffin blocks tissue sections of 56 stage III, poorly differentiated (G3) serous adenocarcinoma patients by immunohistochemistry. Fascin expression was tested for correlation with PFI and overall survival.


RESULTS
Fascin expression inversely correlated with Ki-67 expression (p=0.016). Strong fascin immunoreactivity was associated with poor prognosis; patients with low fascin expression had a median survival of 36.5 months versus 32 months for high fascin expression (p=0.041), and the median PFI was 24 versus 17.5 months (p=0.034).


CONCLUSIONS
Fascin expression is an independent prognostic factor for survival of advanced ovarian serous carcinoma, and may represent a novel therapeutic target for patients with aggressive forms of ovarian cancer.
Daponte
Alexandros
A
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University Hospital of Larissa, Biopolis, Larissa 41110, Greece. dapontea@otenet.gr
Kostopoulou
Eva
E
Papandreou
C N
CN
Daliani
D D
DD
Minas
Marco
M
Koukoulis
George
G
Messinis
Ioannis E
IE
D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C020324:fascin