title: No association between BRCA1 immunohistochemical expression and tumor grade, stage or overall survival in platinum-treated epithelial ovarian cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this work is to assess the frequency of BRCA1 protein immunohistochemical (IHC) expression in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and to evaluate the association of BRCA1 expression with clinical and pathological characteristics and the overall survival (OS) of patients treated with postoperative platinum- based chemotherapeutic agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study was conducted on 35 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer selected from the files of the Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for BRCA1 gene protein. BRCA1 expression was compared to patient's age, tumor histology, grade, stage and OS time. Statistical analysis was carried out with the SPSS version 16.0 to assess significant associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BRCA1 nuclear expression was detected in 40% of EOC, in which a mild increase in the percentage of positive cases was observed with serous histology, stage IV, and grade 3 carcinomas. There was a significant statistical difference in BRCA1 expression with regard to histological subtypes of EOC (p=0.048), but not grade or stage. Mean OS and survival rate were slightly better for BRCA1 expressing group, but there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.528).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No association between BRCA1 immunohistochemical expression and tumor grade, stage or overall survival was noted in platinum-treated epithelial ovarian cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt E-mail : amalabdelhafez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Abd El-Aty
authors.initials: Ael-A
authors.lastname: Shawky
authors.forename: Amal Abd
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Hafez
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: El-Tantawy
authors.forename: Rasha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hamdy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor