Prognostic Significance of KAI-1 and Survivin Expressions in Ovarian Epithelial Carcinomas

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expressions of KAI-1 and survivin, and to investigate their correlation with the clinical stage and survival rate of patients with ovarian carcinomas. Materials and Methods: The expressions of survivin and KAI-1 were immunohistochemically determined in 54 serous and mucinous ovarian adenocarcinomas and borderline malignancy tumors. 10 of the 54 cases were also analyzed for the expressions of survivin and KAI-1 using western blot. Results: The down-regulation of the expression of KAI-1 was observed by immunohistochemical staining (IHC) in 53.7% of the ovarian cancers, and a negative reaction in 50% by the western blot analysis. From the IHC, the survivin expression was positive and strongly positive in 51.9 and 18% of the ovarian cancers, respectively. From the western blot analysis, 10% of the ovarian cancer showed positive reactions. The downregulation of the KAI-1 expression was significantly correlated with the clinical stage (p=0.001) and disease free survival rate (p<0.001), but not with the histological type. The expression of survivin was not correlated with the clinical stage or histological type. However, the patients with a negative survivin expression had a significantly longer disease survival rate than those with a strong positive expression. Conclusion: The down- and up-regulation of the KAI-1 and survivin, respectively, might be independent prognostic factors in human ovarian carcinomas. (Cancer Res Treat. 2003;35:323-329)