abstract: Prognostic Value of Biomarkers Related to Drug Resistance in Patients with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Prognostic Value of Biomarkers Related to Drug Resistance in Patients with Advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer:

Background/Aim:
We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of biomarkers [Ki-67, adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette sub-family B member 1 (ABCB1), adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette sub-family C member 1 (ABCC1), adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette sub-family C member 2 (ABCC2), p53, cyclin E and v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 2 (AKT2)] in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Materials and Methods:
The levels of expression of biomarkers in tumor tissues of 47 patients with stage 3 or 4 EOC were estimated via immunohistochemical staining using tissue microarrays. The associations of biomarker expression with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using a log-rank test and Cox regression analysis.

Results:
Based on multivariate analysis, high expression of Ki-67 (p=0.003) and low expression of ABCC2 (p=0.048) were associated with a prolonged PFS. However, other biomarkers were not associated with PFS. Residual tumor <1 cm (p=0.023) and PFS >6 months (p=0.005) were associated with prolonged OS. However, none of the biomarkers were associated with OS. 

Conclusion: High expression of Ki-67 and low expression of ABCC2 appear to be useful as markers for prolonged PFS in patients with advanced EOC.