title: Phospho-histone H2AX is a diagnostic and prognostic marker for epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Histone H2AX phosphorylation is a sensitive marker for DSB which contributes to both genomic instability and cancer treatment. Monitoring its formation may be a sensitive means to monitor cancer progression and treatment effect.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define the role of phospho-H2AX (pH2AX) expression in development and prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of pH2AX in 87 EOC samples and 28 samples of normal ovarian tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The results were semi-quantitatively scored and analyzed by chi-square test. The overall survival time (OS) and disease free interval (DFI) were collected by follow-up and analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression level of pH2AX protein in EOC were higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.001). Among the sensitive cases, high expression of pH2AX was found in 53.2% cases while for resistant cases, high expression rate was 80% (P=0.025). However, pH2AX expression was not significantly correlated with age, histopathological type, tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis or FIGO stages. Kaplan-Meier analysis found that DFI was negatively correlated with the pH2AX expression, where higher expression of pH2AX resulted in shorter DFI while no OS difference was detected in our study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  pH2AX may be used to detect EOC at an early stage and identify women at higher risk for relapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Jiaying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell and Gene Therapy, West China Institute of Women and Children's Health, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China ; Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Shanling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, West China Institute of Women and Children's Health, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China ; Department of Obstetric and Gynecologic, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006657:Histones / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones
keywords: Histone H2AX; Kaplan-Meier analysis; disease free interval; epithelial ovarian cancer; immunohistochemistry; overall survival