title: Expression and prognostic significance of APE1/Ref-1 and NPM1 proteins in high-grade ovarian serous cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To correlate the expression profile of human apurinic endonuclease/redox factor 1 (APE1/Ref-1) with that of nucleolar/nucleoplasmic protein nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) in association with the aggressiveness and progression of high-grade ovarian serous cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study analyzing a tissue microarray of 73 women affected by high-grade ovarian serous cancer. Protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry on primary tumor masses and synchronous peritoneal metastases if present.
  
  
  RESULTS
  APE1/Ref-1 and NPM1 showed a significant correlation in ovarian serous cancer. Patients with a poorer outcome showed a significant overexpression of nuclear NPM1 protein. A Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression model revealed NPM1 expression to be independently significant for overall survival in high-grade ovarian serous cancers after correcting for stage, age, cytoreduction completeness, and platinum resistance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  APE1/Ref-1 interacts with NPM1 to control the DNA damage repair system, and it is likely that this interaction plays a defining role in high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma. A high NPM1 immunohistochemical expression was independently correlated with a shorter survival period and thus appears to be an important prognostic factor.
authors: Dept of Experimental Clinical and Medical Science, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Udine, Piazzale SM della Misericordia, 15-33100 Udine, Italy; ambrogio.londero@gmail.com.
authors: Ambrogio P
authors: AP
authors: Londero
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Orsaria
authors: Gianluca
authors: G
authors: Tell
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Marzinotto
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Capodicasa
authors: Mattia
authors: M
authors: Poletto
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Vascotto
authors: Cosimo
authors: C
authors: Sacco
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Mariuzzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004260:DNA Repair; D043603:DNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) Lyase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090243:Nucleophosmin; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: C000716967:NPM1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000090243:Nucleophosmin; C085108:APEX1 protein, human; D043603:DNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) Lyase
keywords: APE1/Ref-1; NPM1; Ovarian cancer; Prognostic factors; Survival