Activated p38-MAPK and gemcitabine sensitivity in recurrent ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Our study aimed to investigate if p38-MAPK determined in primary ovarian cancer can serve as a predictive marker for sensitivity to gemcitabine treatment in recurrent disease.


METHODS
Activated (phosphorylated) p38-MAPK was immunohistochemically assessed in paraffin-embedded tumors obtained at primary debulking surgery from 45 patients treated with gemcitabine for platinum-resistant recurrence. The value of activated p38-MAPK in predicting sensitivity to gemcitabine treatment was statistically evaluated.


RESULTS
Activated p38-MAPK was demonstrated in all healthy ovaries and all ovarian carcinomas examined. In controls, the median histological score (H-score) for activated p38-MAPK staining was 200, while in ovarian cancer the median H-score was 100. Activity of p38-MAPK in ovarian cancer tissue was not associated with overall response or survival after gemcitabine chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
P38-MAPK activity, determined by immunohistochemistry in ovarian cancer specimens obtained at primary diagnosis, cannot serve as a predictive marker for sensitivity to gemcitabine treatment in platinum-resistant disease.
Klotz
Renate
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Zeimet
Alain Gustave
AG
Reimer
Daniel
D
Müller-Holzner
Elisabeth
E
Chamson
Martina
M
Marth
Christian
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000093542:Gemcitabine
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000093542:Gemcitabine