The expressions of bHLH gene HES1 and HES5 in advanced ovarian serous adenocarcinomas and their prognostic significance: a retrospective clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
Notch signaling was recently found to be associated with prognosis of some cancers. The aim of the study is to investigate significance of the expression of HES1/HES5 protein, downstream effectors of Notch, in prognosis of the patients with advanced ovarian epithelial cancers.


METHODS
Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues and clinic-pathological parameters from 61 patients with FIGO stage IIIc-IV ovarian serous adenocarcinoma were collected, the expression of HES1 and HES5 protein were immunohistochemically detected, and the association of HES1 and HES5 expression with survival of the patients were analyzed.


RESULTS
The expressions of both HES1 and HES5 in adenocarcinoma were significantly higher than those in adenoma and normal control (chi(2) = 32.915, P = 0.000 and chi(2) = 46.863, P = 0.000 respectively). Overall survival and disease-free period were longer in HES1 low-expression patients (median 43.0 and 22.0 months) than those in high-expression patients (median 24.0 and 14.5 months). Of those, Overall survival period of patients with HES1 low-expression was significantly longer than that of those with high-expression (chi(2) = 4.049, P = 0.044). Univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression model did not show that HES1 or HES5 expression was a factor associated with survival of advanced ovarian serous adenocarcinoma patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The expressions of bHLH gene HES1 and HES5 are increased in advanced ovarian serous adenocarcinomas, and HES1 high-expression probably is a potential poor prognostic factor for the patients.
Wang
Xinyu
X
Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310006 Hangzhou, China.
Fu
Yajuan
Y
Chen
Xiaoduan
X
Ye
Jing
J
Lü
Bingjian
B
Ye
Feng
F
Lü
Weiguo
W
Xie
Xing
X
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; D055815:Young Adult
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000072056:Transcription Factor HES-1; C077478:HES5 protein, human; C078493:HES1 protein, human