title: Activated p38-MAPK and gemcitabine sensitivity in recurrent ovarian cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: Alain Gustave
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Zeimet
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reimer
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller-Holzner
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chamson
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marth
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000093542:Gemcitabine