Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2011; 71 - O_9
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1286464

Immunoreactive score of Ep-CAM might predict survival in early ovarian cancer patients

MJ Battista 1, J Steetskamp 1, N Mantai 1, S Gebhard 1, C Cotarelo 2, A Victor 3, I Petry 1, M Schmidt 1, H Kölbl 1
  • 1Frauenklinik
  • 2Pathologie
  • 3Medizinische Biometrie, Epidemiologie und Informatik, Universitätsmedizin, Mainz

Background:

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep-CAM) is a well known adhesion molecule serving as a target for targeted therapies in ovarian cancer (OC) and prediction of breast cancer. Here, we studied a possible association between Ep-CAM expression and prognosis in patients with early OC.

Material and Methods:

All OC patients who were treated at our institution between the years of 1980 and 2003 with FIGO stage I-II, available follow-up information and OC tissue were enrolled in this study. Ep-CAM expression was assessed using an immunoreactive score defined by the product of a proportion and intensity score. A score of 9 or 12 was considered as positive. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis.

Results:

124 patients entered this study. The median follow-up time was 94.9 months. Ep-CAM score was positive in 35%. Ep-CAM expression showed a negative impact on survival in early OC (HR 2.31; 95%CI, 1.05 to 5.09; p=0.037). Established clinical prognostic factors like FIGO stage (HR 2.50; 95%CI, 1.10 to 5.92; p=0.029) and histological grade were associated with decreased survival (HR 5.19; 95%CI, 1.86 to 14.48; p=0.002). Kaplan-Meier plot demonstrated an influence of Ep-CAM on 5 years survival rates (89.7% vs. 73.6%). In multivariate Cox-regression analysis Ep-CAM expression failed to show a significant association with survival of OC considering FIGO stage and histological grade (HR 2.12; 95%CI, 0.92 to 4.86; p=0.078).

Conclusions:

Ep-CAM expression might be associated with decreased survival in patients with early OC. Further studies with bigger cohorts are warranted to demonstrate this possible impact.