title: Cytokines and Prognostic Factors in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian cancer has a high mortality and delayed diagnosis. Inflammation is a risk factor for ovarian cancer, and the inflammatory response is involved in almost all stages of tumor development. Immunohistochemical staining in stroma and epithelium of a panel of cytokines in benign and malignant ovarian neoplasm was evaluated. In addition, immunostaining was related to prognostic factors in malignant tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 28 ovarian benign neoplasias and 28 ovarian malignant neoplasms. A panel of cytokines was evaluated by immunohistochemistry (Th1: IL-2 and IL-8; Th2: IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10; and TNFR1). Chi-square test with Yates' correction was used, which was considered significant if less than 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TNFR1, IL-5, and IL-10 had more frequent immunostaining 2/3 in benign neoplasms compared with malignant tumors. Malignant tumors had more frequent immunostaining 2/3 for IL-2 in relation to benign tumors. The immunostaining 0/1 of IL 8 was more frequent in the stroma of benign neoplasms compared with malignant neoplasms. Evaluation of the ovarian cancer stroma showed that histological grade 3 was significantly correlated with staining 2/3 for IL-2 (P = 0.004). Women whose disease-free survival was less than 2.5 years had TNFR1 stromal staining 2/3 (P = 0.03) more frequently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-2 and TNFR1 stromal immunostaining are related prognostic factors in ovarian cancer and can be the target of new therapeutic strategies.
authors: Research Institute of Oncology (IPON)/Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors: Millena Prata
authors: MP
authors: Jammal
authors: Research Institute of Oncology (IPON)/Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors: Agrimaldo
authors: A
authors: Martins-Filho
authors: Discipline of Special Pathology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors: Thales Parenti
authors: TP
authors: Silveira
authors: Research Institute of Oncology (IPON)/Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors: Eddie Fernando Candido
authors: EF
authors: Murta
authors: Research Institute of Oncology (IPON)/Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
authors: Rosekeila Simões
authors: RS
authors: Nomelini
keywords: IL-2; TNF-alpha; cytokines; ovarian neoplasm; peritumoral stroma; prognostic factors